stupid. stunts on t.v. don't come. from moscow this is r.t. just in time for your headlines now spanish police have fired rubber bullets at the miners who have converged on madrid in protest at the coal industry cuts the government's also announced get more painful tax hikes swelling the demonstration with thousands more angry protesters. syria's main opposition leaders refused to budge the top level talks right here in moscow saying that one president assad in power and they're demanding the u.n. intervene to stop the bloodshed russia is meanwhile asking the security council to prolong its mission in the country for three more months. and volatile talks on

immigrants show an alarming increase in greece reflecting a rise of nationalist sentiment both on the streets and in parliament the riots and racial hatred is being blamed on the economic crisis right next to an r t we explore how people behind bars are finding freedom of self expression this is what's. many of those who land behind bars are obliged to work by law in russian prison colonies criminals often receive an education sometimes specializing in a completely new profession for a few their talents manifest in ways they would never have realised in the days before the war prison clothing. come forward stand in line any question.

it was just things that i am in the army know. when my she does not understand what's going on yet. i don't want to tell her she will understand when she goes to . alexander eleven overtures baking an apple and peach pie for his six year old daughter and soon she and his wife will come to see him in a special visiting room alexander hasn't seen his daughter in five years and all the time he's been locked up in a prison for dangerous criminals. first we need the dough. then we cut the fruit to pieces and it's going to have different shapes and colors so then we put the pie into the stove and bake it. alexander laughing over ended up in a jail after a street fight it's already is second time in prison. for. an

experienced conan is perfectly aware of the fact that those who work during their time at a colony can receive various incentives like extra meetings with relatives. there peaceful for about a book when i came to work here there were no greenhouses yet there was nothing here in fact. i told myself that i had to work but i did change which will cycle before we do it learned how to make sausages smoke dried meat and use the van with and i just don't even have the slightest idea of how to do it before we grow q cumbers and cabbage we also grow flowers and we manage the household and then time to do all the stuff that you're probably i will continue doing it when i finish my timing to conform with. labor doesn't only help to improve convicts but it's also a way for them to some extra money some even manage to own

a living for their families from behind bars. inmates can also put this money towards debts alimony or fines they need to pay for. the sink a given birth yes just a week ago the piglets are very small right now. they're so cute. why's he swimming said he wants to be with his mommy. the prison has its own means of producing milk and like all other produce it doesn't just end up being served in the convicts mess hall but also sold at shops beyond the gates customers can easily recognize the milk's origins by the colonies a brand symbol a sailboat. it's the little shop selling groceries produced by the prisoners has been opened right next door to the colony it bears a beautiful name. meaning

a chunk of bread in russian with all these cucumbers being grown in the colony yes they are and they see what sort. of kind is that. when we buy some bread yes the hotels deliver the goods from the bakery. it's most frequent customers are the relatives of the convicts people living in the nearby villages are also happy to buy food at such convict outlets prices here are significantly lower and there's a decent range of products on sale. when should you say thank you. correctional labor colonies don't just produce dairy and vegetables but clothing bath accessories souvenirs and even log cabins forbes magazine wrote that the

russian prison industry is one of the most profitable occupations for him make. more than two hundred fifty convex have a job we have timber production here prisoners dig wells and to build log cabins now we are constructing a church in the village before we make benches tables and other things that the convicts need everything is sold both to individuals and organizations and. the board work is a means of education the most important thing is that contacts get used to working and then learn a profession so that they can get a job and a salary after they leave the colony and never come back. but there are prisoners who do not want to work. but i wouldn't so we hold meetings with them but if you look at and take preventative measures we can also put them in solitary confinement in extreme cases. all the different things

happened i refused to work do morning exercises kept prohibited items i did not want to work. i used to think that if i wanted to i would be working in earning money outside these walls not here with. ramón cumberland ski used to be a frequent visitor to the isolation cell he was punished for being caught with contraband skipping morning exercises and even worse the refusing to work. in the criminal world the mere idea of working with considered disgraceful. also thought the same way for the one country to cover lasky came here a few years ago when he used to spend a lot of time in a punishment. we held a number of meetings with him and then he voluntarily filled in an application form to get a job. to remand landed in jail for robbery his daughter was born she is

now four years old and that it was when my daughter was born i looked at my past at my present. and thought about the future and i decided to get out of jail as soon as possible. when you get immersed in work you have less time to think of what life has in store for you when your term ends. time passes quicker a little bit with the. you know the goal of maci has spent nearly hof his life in prison he was arrested on rape charges and is doing time in a strict regime colony in the siberian city of pumps. good of all things you know he is considered the best blacksmith in the whole of siberia and many referred to him respectfully as must. i was a blacksmith for ten years before i ended up here but it is that is why i was sent to work at this forge one wanted to continue doing this kind of work to.

i make semi manufactured sabers blades swords daggers and knives. almost all types of cold weapons. my first sword was a replica from the lord of the rings movie. this kind of work is interesting of course it is time consuming but interesting. of course all these weapons are just souvenirs and made under strict control. the blacksmith is currently studying the ancient technology of steel full of.

morris look i found the literature on carving would you like to take a look at what's written here the drawings are ok these items are easy to make and they look beautiful and they are suitable for a piece we'll only have to ask an artist to make the pictures bigger ok let's do it i think you understand that the project is a difficult one. has become a ship builder at the colony the models of ships he makes are no different from the famous frigates or the times of peter the first every detail of the siding the deck of the bridge has been carefully thought out there as sails and flags on the mosques. we produce two to three ships a year and we make them all different to avoid monotony ships are a symbol of the city of congo. and there is another ship that is city entrance gate

we live in a city of ship builders so it's only natural that we put one over the colonies entrance it's beautiful. our ship is called v.t. as you can see a frigate and a cannon here we wanted to create a common collective image there used to be a shipyard in our congo peter the great built wooden ships here and i'm. just here is the blueprint we'll use. we will not be following it to the letter. where the deck will be a bit lower as the body of the ship is going to be rectangular. every ship just like the first ship has a history of a great deal of time and effort has been put into everyone there is no favorite because we love them all. the positive emotions we experience when building

a ship or then passed on to the people and there are no negative emotions we experience only positive emotions as everyone is trying to give the best they have one to make everything perfect avoiding any possible mistakes. of course i found myself it is interesting to me. i did not think about crime and that i am not going to go down the criminal path again once i am out of prison i would rather start a normal life with no more robbery or murder i want to continue doing what i have learned here this is going to be my favorite occupation which can also bring money to the family. is to be released in a few months he's promised to give the first chippy builds to his daughter as a present.

you know mark will. you one more i shouldn't hear it. the secret behind the technique of forging the legendary damascus steel has been unravelled by a dangerous criminal imprisoned in siberia talented blacksmith get out to get a maci has discovered how warriors of the persian empire forged steel. for the this is going to be a marine saber and it is important to preserve all the measures and standards one of these are templates for a sort where. the experienced blacksmith did know most of the ancient technique overnight the method of making cold weapons is very labor intensive.

and of one it should take several types of metal which is first forged. then a sandwich consisting of several layers is made out of it. then it is welded that's how damascus steel is made. of though there were attempts to revive the practice as a result they managed to produce good damascus steel which is now exhibited in various places. after the sabers ducks and dug as a forged they'll pass through the hands of many prison craftsman only then will these souvenirs be put on display. this is a specific branch and convicts are handpicked for this kind of work and there are lots of volunteers but we cannot take them all both private clients and cossack organizations purchase our products where. our own shop products get sold quickly

and it. is. a famous generalissimo suv were made of damascus steel it has gold plated face thing similar to that. this is a leather sheet lined with wood on the. both among men and women you. know everyone can appreciate the skills of the imprisoned blacksmiths. the workmanship of prisoners is of the highest quality this is achieved through strict discipline as well as constant control. there are no for you to come in place to check the long term enough for homecoming but i know it has

a manufacturing defect hasn't it we're not finished yet. can't you see that the diameter should be different jim of the you but can you i want to of the workers and they do their best there should be no defects whatsoever. in quality as those who work are treated with respect. to convict and against the war. refusing to work means of violating the regime. criminals express their attitudes to religion differently the tattoo on their back is regarded as a kind of talisman. done off as one of those had never been religious before he came to prison. this is the

image of jesus christ i've been carving out for week in a house with. no i do not say prayers well that's not true i pray sometimes when i have some troubles. then i pray it helps. ilya ended up in jail for the first time when he was still young after attempted robbery in prison the convict discovered that he had a talent but it did not bring him happiness. it is impossible to be happy in prison. it is easier course but that has nothing to do with happiness and you're still i hope that i will be happy

some day in the future. for good now i only face problems and challenges in life. i have to go through them or at least try to. work is humming in the workshop where ship layouts and made it there are just five months before remand. is due to be released and it's important to him to finish building the ship before the end of his term. how's it going there is too little time i need someone to help me no i cannot give you an assistant you must cope with the task alone but there is one option you may stay here after your term ends and work as a freelance craftsman you have all the money it's an interesting offer you have time to think about it ok. look at.

this it's. doubled your wallet and your p.c. and they simply you have got. a good look in your. father alexander a local church dean has come to visit the colony where done of his serving his term he used to bless the cross that will crown the wooden church in the colony. brought the image of the virgin mary made with his own hands. really don't be shy speak up. bless him please father now we learn how to do it here yes with this new friends look elian has carved this icon himself. some. people often reveal hidden talents here you know it's a lot to thank you for your gift i think you are giving it on behalf of everybody

but. you can. see that you cannot see that what had been the church icon painters have always been spiritual people i mean that can you call yourself spiritual. i guess no. but if one wished therefore first you have to read the gospels the one that you found yourself under unusual circumstances so you use this opportunity to read more to enrich your soul and all the rest god will open up for you but you have a talent it will manifest itself. in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit amen kiss my hand to all the good in kind god be with you so.

after the ceremony the convict returns to his workshop while the priest left the colony with the ick on. the car stick with every icon in our church has its own history we are involved in this kind of educational activity when students in intelligentsia come i always try to tell them about our church and show them the icons and i am also going to talk about the icon made in presented to our church by each of the icon a short talky piet's place among other icons and it is going to have a story of its own. every morning together with his team alexander lover know vich does morning exercise the poster behind him says remember your family is waiting for you. alexander sometimes thinks he's in the army even though everyone is wearing prison

uniform and trapped behind wire fences. in the street i think there's no point in being sorry about what happened most of us will live it's only for the better then . see if you end up there than there is a reason for that this is it for paul's i should check now soon we will return to society but also one of we can come from the continue living our lives. have changed i think. i'm not going to get into any street fights anymore. convicts love or know which has brought the pike he baked to his daughter to the meeting room. after half an hour of waiting the clanging bolts in the hallway signal the arrival of his loved ones. you. darling. to come here. if you've been missing me.

ok tell me how you doing. that sit down. and look back to pie for you. to albuquerque all sorts of yummy things at home. and. mother has painted it. the icon cover of a hand goes to prison began reading the bible after his conversation with the priest saw all i could not sleep and as i was thinking about what he had told me about everything that had happened. i had blessed the church service and

ha it given him the icon so. with them said that's what the entire penal system is about a criminal ends up in jail while a conscious citizen and highly spiritual man is going to be the one that is set free but now i see how ilia has made his first step on this road or what kind of person will he be when he is set free he would be can become a great artist or an icon painter but it doesn't matter if he was a life of a normal citizen then it means that the goal has been reached. many conviction dream of starting a new off to their release the skills leave most of the behind bugs ashore to come in handy.

i have no close relatives my mom died and i only have distant relatives for them i think everything will be fine with the job with blacksmiths are needed everywhere so there's no worry what i want is to be set free of. this because the boy i do have plans. to push cause i don't have to say what has changed over this time it's been five years since i got here or want to have a family was the job. i would have both of them just like all of the normal people . i have no wish to end up back in jail so. the first thing i have to do is raise my younger brother is lot a similar to mine he also grew up without a mother perhaps i will teach him to carve icons too. i

will try to get him interested. but there is no way that i am going back to the colony. i made a decision to stay away from here. i will never work for them as a freelancer or end up back here is a convict. i

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