I Spent Time in A KGB Prison in Riga, Latvia 🇱🇻
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2022
- I Spent Time in A KGB Prison in Riga, Latvia 🇱🇻
Join me as we spend the day in A Soviet KGB prison in Riga Latvia.
In this video we retrace the horrors an inmate would have endured in a KGB Prison during the Soviet times.
You will find this video shocking as you discover the truth of what went on in these places and hopefully it will make you realize just how lucky you are.
If you enjoy adventure videos from the former Soviet Union and Central & Eastern Europe, then grab your vodka, some zakusky and join me as we spend the day in a KGB Prison.
Thank you to all my CZcams Members and Patreons for your support and for helping make this channel what it is!
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Justin, thank You for this vlog. My name is Giedrius, 46 Y.O., from Lithuania. My farther in 1956, was send to Siberia, near Kemerovo, to coal mines. He was then 23, his fault was, that he lived with his 7 brothers/sisters and parents in small wooded house in the forest. Russians treated them as a forest brothers/supporters. He managed to escape from Siberia, in an open train wagon for coal. Long starving hidden journey of 7000 km back to Lithuania. Then in a few weeks he was arrested again, were detained by Russians in 2 prisons, and after that he was sentenced for deportation to the closed Gulag near Murmansk, in north of Russia. This Gulag is known of the canal walls, made of humans skeletons. As Russians treated him as a political prisoner, the prison administration ordered to send him in a cell with so called urkas, Russian megacriminals, who got all the control inside all Gulags. The urkas inserted one of many methods against my father in kil ling him slowly and painfully. In the night shift, when working in heating department, my father found a plate with small piece of meat. As he got known later, this piece of flitch was melted in gasoline and dried. When one eats it, he dyes in agony and pain, getting blooded intestines. In an agony he was brought to so called hospital inside Gulag. The Administration were hoping, he will be gone soon, but my father, being very physically strong, did not die. The nurses and Russian were afraid of getting infected from him, so, after few weeks, he was written off, with a medical document, as a disabled person. They thought he will fagged out somewhere on the way to Lithuania. But he survived. He came back to Lithuania. Worked as truck driver all his life, in occupied homeland. I was born to him in 1976. I have never heard his storey, until 1991, when, during the Russian shooting near TV tower in Vilnius, my friend, Ignas, 17 Y.O. at that time was shot dead by Russians. My father is 89 now. He is alive. He is sleeping in other room, when I'm writing this comment.
Hello Gietdrius,
First of all I want to say what a hero your dad is, I am sure you are very proud of him.
The story is absolutely amazing, incredible and really makes you stop and put things into perspective.
I am not sure if this is appreciated, but my instinct is that I would love to meet your father and hear his story!!!
What city in Lithuania do you live in?
Would be great to grab a beer and meet you on my next trip.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, I really appreciate it my friend
All the best🙏
@@J.E.E thank You, Justin. I've send you an e-mail. Greetings from Vilnius!
Omg, what a story. You should tape his story and write a book. This is incredible. My grandma’s two sisters were deported to Siberia and unfortunately I don’t know their destiny.
Bloody hell, you and your father are strong 🙏 I visited KBG musuem/death chambers 2015. Will forever tell the story.
@@malinandersson9151 thank You for kind words! Unfortunately, my Father passed away a few month ago. But he had a long 91 years life!
Never say that Soviets liberated baltics the correct word is reoccupied
As a latvian i think this was a really good video and description of the history as it really was. Glad to have you visiting!
Hi my friend, Thank you so much for watching and commenting, it really helps support the channel... I'm really glad that you enjoyed the video! 👍👌
I'm loving Latvia brother! My wife is an artist and she would love visit that building! Very interesting video!
Hi my friend, Thank you for watching and commenting... you should definitely give this place a visit if you get the chance! 👍
Thanks Justin one of your best videos to date without question Your commentary at the end should resonate with the community at large ,wise words indeed Stay safe and keep them coming mate 👍
Thank you Paul,
I loved making this video, it was a true experience.
I am happy the closing resonates with you, because I truly feel like we are being threatened.
I will make more of these soon.
One interesting fact about this building. After fall of Soviet Union there was still a police department but then they closed it - then this building was standing many years empty like huge ghost house - then government decided to renovate it (outside of building) and then they had idea to offer companies to rent for offices or even make flats for sell. Well it turned out that - there was zero interest from anyone about apartment in this building or even office (many locals don't even dare to go visit this place - especially elderly people who was living all they life under Soviet regime and was terrified of this building all they life). So after fail of idea to sell this building under offices or flats for private persons they decided to left as if was been inside and open KGB museum so that everyone can see horrors of Soviet Union and socialism system!
That's the history of it after. However before these terrible things took place it was a music school, library, bookstore, pharmacy and various shops. It was also a Latvian government building for a while. A lot things and various businesses happened there. The architect of this building vanaga kungs never saw this building turn into a terrible kgb house in his earthly life. He was executed during the time of red terror in 1919
Hey Justin, I am glad you did this video. A really good read is "Up Against the Wall" by Vincent Hunt that that tells the story of the Corner House. I appreciate you are trying to tell a story, I just felt calling them prisoners was wrong to some degree. In the early days these were Latvia's elected politicians, teachers, doctors etc. Anyone who could be seen as opposing the Soviet/Russian invaders. They were for the most part illegally and falsely imprisoned. The first Soviet occupation of Latvia was so brutal, that people initially welcomed the Nazi's as liberators. That of course changed over time, but the Soviets were not viewed as liberators of Latvia. They were viewed as occupiers and continued to be so. It took me until my 5th trip to Latvia to visit this horrible place. I am saddened that the same tactics are now occurring in occupied Ukraine, and in Belarus.
Exactly
Nazi occupation really quickly turned bad and people became aware of it. As soon as they invaded they started massacres, tortures, taking away peoples freedoms, putting them in ghettos and so forth and on a massive scale. The opposite of any kind of liberation
Excellent Justin! Thanks for the view into the past. Things like your video will help keep it there via awareness.
Hi Christoph... Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm really happy you enjoyed coming along the journey with me 👍👌
Greetings from Bulgaria 🇧🇬! Can't wait for your next video Justin. You are an amazing guy Bravo!
Justin congrats good job as always
Thanks so much for the support! 👍👌
Another great video and such an insight in to a hidden part of the KGB. Very eerie in there and your video portrays this atmosphere perfectly Justin!
I'm so glad you enjoyed and got a real feel of the atmosphere... Thanks so much for watching my friend! 👍👌
Good one thank you for sharing ! Pro documentary reporter 👏
Thank you for watching and commenting, it really helps support the channel. I'm very happy you enjoyed 👍👌
Incredible video as always! and a huge CONGRATULATIONS for 10k!!!
What a horrible place... salute to those brave people who went through this horrible experience.
Thank you Justin for this really great documentary.
Hello my friend... I definitely agree! Thank you so much for watching 👍👌
Rarely i get this kind of chills and shivers from a video.. imagine being locked up there. Holy sh*t.
Hello my friend. I agree... walking through this place also gave me shivers! It was a very eye-opening experience. Thank you for watching 👍👌
Wow what a great insight to the brutal kgb, amazing video and congratulations on 10k subscribers!
Thanks so much for watching and supporting mate! 👍👌
Admirations, brother!
Amazing content, brother 👌👍
Hi my friend, Thanks so much for watching and coming a long the journey with me 👍👌
Very good video, Justin. I have seen a few of the videos about this place, but none had given me the shivers and uneasy feeling like your video. I am quite claustrophobic so seeing you sitting in that first tiny cell where the walls are literally closing in on you, gave me true shivers. You explained things really well and showed much more than I have seen in other videos so far. I’ve heard a lot about this place, but never been in there myself. I had a pretty good image of it in my head already though. I feel sorry for all those people who had to suffer and die there. Soviet regime was brutal.
Thanks for the tour, Justin. 👍🏻
P.S. Congratulations on 10k! 🥳
Hello, Thank you so much for the kind words... I'm so happy you enjoyed it and got a good feel of the video. Your comments and support really help my channel! 👍👌
Great video Justin.
Astrid and I have to visit next time we are in Riga.
Thanks so much for watching my friend! 👍👌
That building is sick. The atmosphere in there hangs as heavy as a ton of lead around the neck, the evil that for decades infested it's corridors and rooms is etched in the very fabric of the place, tangibly so.
Horrific.
Hi Justin, you might consider visiting Karosta in Liepaja. They also have Karosta prizon, where you can stay a night ( as a prisoner). I remember watching BBC travel show where some coverage of this museum was shown. The trust representative was asked why do they created such museum in a first place. Well her response was similar to your conclusion of todays video, - that we take our freedoms, lifestyle for granted without knowing and understanding the hardships that historically was a reality for so many people. I personally find Karosta fascinating place itself
Very interesting Justin did not know about it and im impressed how they let you share all with us.
Who let him share this? The museum is for people to learn, and share history. How stupid are you?
HELLO JUSTIN
I SEE ALL YOUR VIDEOS
THANKS MATE
Hello Sebastian! Thank you so much for watching and commenting... It really helps support the channel 👍👌
Beautiful architecture, Interesting video. Thank you Sir
Thanks so much for watching and coming a long the journey with me… I'm so glad you enjoyed! 👍👌
Your videos are very good and knowledgeable. Your chanel needs to grow, you do fantastic work. 👌
Thank you so much🙏
happy for you for 10K hope you soon get to 100K :)
Thanks so much for supporting me and watching!! 👍👌
This is on my to-do list for my upcoming visit to Riga.
That is great... Please remember to mention the video when you go there!... Help support them!!!
A really good and interesting film in which you described and showed this terrifying place and the terrible methods of the russian occupier
I visited Riga earlier this summer. I loved it. I also visited the KGB museum. It was very interesting and a great experience
10k subs gj :) and as always, a great episode. for a one-man army :) edit: and Polish prisons look very similar even now :) i know, because i lived for one couple of months: P and it's time for q & a is getting closer: P question from me: do you like darts?
🇱🇻Im from latvia, thank you fr visiting our country our people are friendly! 😁
I'm a new subscriber after finding your channel via Random Dave's videos. You are definitely the new Bald & Bankrupt now he has stopped doing his Soviet adventures. I'm hoping to meet up with Dave in a couple of weeks time, looking forward to a beer with him (and maybe Yulichka too).
Hi Neil,
Thank you so much for the kind and supportive comment.
I am sure you will enjoy Krakow, it is a fantastic city full of history and amazing architecture, with a great vibe.
Be sure to send my regards to Dave and Julichka when you see them.
Thank you so much for subscribing to the channel, it means a lot👍👌
@@J.E.E Thanks for taking 5 minutes to reply. This will be my 24th visit to Krakow since 2016! I'm more of a local than the locals 😂😂
And I have some amazing friends there, more like family really. If I manage to catch up with Dave and Yulichka of course I will give them your best wishes.
Looking forward to more great videos from you, you have great content and style. Definitely B&B 2.0! 👍👍👍👍
My grandma was sent to Siberia so she probably went through this place. Thank you for the video.
Wow what a sad story... It was crazy being in this museum, I cannot imagine what it was like as a functioning jail.
What a horrifying place! I would have never survived.
It really was ... I am happy they decided to keep it as a reminder.
Hey Justin, you could sometime come to vratsa in bulgaria.You would like it a lot because there have many historical events happened there and its a nice little city you could visit.I love your channel and maybe you could come someday if you mind to.
In my time, this building was called the House of Nail Removers.
So interesting... Any reason why?
@@J.E.E Because denailing was a common interrogation practice. Ask someone older what "nagu maucēju nams" is. This practice probably wasn't so popular in the KGB, but it was often used by NKVD and NKGB in the 40s/50s.
keep up the good work mate. Love this video. Hit me up when you back in Riga. Cheers
Hello mate, Thanks so much for the kind words... You can DM me on my Instagram page and we can talk about meeting some time!👍👌
I remember visiting here a few years ago. A very chilling place. Similarly, the KGB prison in Vilnius with it's execution room in the basement.
Just shows how bad the USSR treated people
Amen. Tankies from the West can rot in hell.
When were you there? :) I was just in Kaunas, Vilnius, Trakai, Riga and Cēsis from monday the 18th until 25th of July
Amazing place, I had a guided tour of it 4-5 years back... The guide had some incredible stories - The photo you show at 19:37 if I remember correctly is of some Nazis who the KGB had captured. Except one of them ended up dying in captivity so they simply took a random Latvian/Russian prisoner and dressed him up as a Nazi and hung him instead...
A few other things I remember:
The place was simply locked up and left when the USSR ended, they've basically re-opened "as-is" to create this museum
There were some cells which were deliberately designed so you could neither stand or sit as a form of torture
They used to have the cell lights on full brightness 24/7 to make the inmates disorientated and lose concept of time and day/night
Barely anyone came out of there alive...
Really gruesome but fascinating... What an awesome place, I will go back next time I'm in LV
In that time you were the bigest enemies, but todey you are friends again.
Friends - sounds better!! 😃👍 Thanks for watching and commenting!!
@@J.E.E Of course, but beware from false friends.
Interesting vlog. Freedom is so important and taken for granted. Heading towards increasing authoritarianism and restrictions in movement / speech and not only referring to the KGB era. History not always repeats, but it rhymes. A battle again today of ideologies and the beginning of a multi polar world. Would like to hear your thoughts on the BRICS system that is emerging and expanding. Thanks
I always wanted to stay in a prison for one night. I think it would be an interesting experience. Maybe for my birthday.
Come to Plovdiv, and we go to the Ribarnika 😀
"Only ideology can provide evil with its long sought after justification"
Solzhenitsyn 😢
In the film, what was the knocking sound at 8:40, was it a ghost😮 ?
Very gorgeous architecture thank you for sharing sharing here in the United States with all kinds of people
Hi my friend, Thank you so much for watching and commenting, it really helps support the channel. 👍👌
@@J.E.E thank you so much for sharing beautiful architecture and history I love my history and I love architectural structures in Russia you have some of the most beautiful architectural structures that I've only seen pictures of and wish I could only come and see
I really appreciate the kind words and i'm glad you're enjoying the videos I upload! I am also a big fan of history and architecture... hopefully one day you can visit some of these places!👍
@@lennymalley745 mate this is not Russia nor is it Russian architecture.
@@J.E.E my friend I wish you and Russia the very best as do many of us here trying to get across to the people though some people are hard-headed you know I'm sure you have plenty there too that just will not listen unfortunately we have to take our country back one way or another this ass puppet with Barack Obama in the basement needs to go God bless you in Russia and know that we love you you have always stood behind the people here anytime we've entered into war with you thank you for the way you treat us when our people come over there PS tell him to keep Brittany bryner we don't want her back
What a building jk
so, do you still fancy Soviet Times after you have seen this? do you still find Soviets kinda romantic?
Hi Aris,
Not sure what you mean by your comment?!?
I am fascinated by history and this is a page from my personal era... The cold war.
I have never tried to romanticise the Soviet regime, nor do I long for the cold war.
I do however have a problem with the current trend of pretending that history did not happen and the solution is to eradicate any trace of it and become a social media clone.
I hope you understand my point of view... It is really important to understand and learn from history and not stick our heads in the sand, if we want a better future.
Thank you for watching and all the best👌👍
@@J.E.E in your older videos you are kinda marveling about Soviet Union. you and Bald and Bankrupt.
i always watched your videos when traveling trough ex-Soviet space. you both seem to be nostalgic and in favor of it.
@@arisplugis5197 I think we could find different words to describe my emotions... Certainly not romantic nor nostalgic, as I did not grow up in the Soviet Union
Perhaps we could try fascinated and curious... And certainly not in favor of communism 🤪
@@arisplugis5197 I majored in history- specifically European and Russian history, so love seeing historic things. As it is, seeing them from the perspective of an outsider, things are different. If I were Latvian, or Czech, or Polish or Estonian or from any other nation which suffered because of the Soviet Union, I would want all traces of occupation destroyed, however. Bald is another case. He travels to Russia while the war is going on. He spends money there- which helps finance the war against Ukraine. As he is supporting the war, I no longer watch him.
@@J.E.E OK. i get your point now. fascination is not admiration. fair enough.
in these times everybody are so tense in Latvija when somebody talking and showing about Russian World. me including.
I visited these prinson chambers. Prisoners were tortured to death. The blood spatter was still there, in the cells. Please remember the Latvian people, and vote for democracy.
My grandmother was lucky not to be deported. They were called kULAKI. HAVE 40 HA OF PROPERTY
To respect the souls that gone through those doors, I would call them prisoners but not criminal!s. May their souls rest in peace.
Welcom to latvia!Im from latvia
Might be off topic but Justin should be president or at least mayor of Riga.
Lord, have mercy for the rich people in power! Judgement day is here!
Did you encounter any sharks?
Try in Chisinau Moldova!
This should be a reminder to the Millennials a Z's who think socialism is a good idea.
My Gradfather have been called to there many times in 70s.. he was deported to siberia in 1949 and Russians not let him return to Latvia even till 1964.. and after then he should need to go to chec in there.. Soviet terror similar like what Russians doing in Ukraine now
Ukraine government have been shelling their own citizens in the Donbass for 8 years. 14k dead at least. I'm tired of this being ignored and trying to make out this started in February this year
I want Benjamin from bald and bankrupt to visit this place.
This part of KGB prison is part of "Russian's world".
Thank you for your input
Has this prison been used in any way by the Latvian authorities for the past thirty years, since the USSR (and KGB) have gone down in history?
Yes, but only as a museum. No normal country including Latvia has structures like ФСБ, Нацгвардия etc. so there is no need for such specialized prisons.
@@melluzi Well, CIA secret prisons in Western Europe and Lithuania have been put under investigation in 2005, 2009 and 2015 by European Court of Human Rights. Lithuania even has reportedly paid $113,000 in compensation to a man subjected to torture by the CIA at a secret location outside the capital Vilnius - didn't you hear about that ? The so called "Baltic Guantanamo" scandal ?
@@user-xs1jh5jv9y I have not been following that story. Besides, Latvia and Lithuania are two different countries. KGB museum is in Riga, not Vilnius.
@@melluzi Sure they are different - but very close to each other in their modern US-oriented policy, that's why I was wondering if former Soviet - now Latvian - prison is used as Lithuanian or Polish ones, for CIA illegal violence. Normal countries, huh )))
@@user-xs1jh5jv9y Some may complain about US / NATO oriented policies of the Baltic states but turns out that was the only way to avoid losing their territories. Which is unfortunately is not the case for previously Russia-oriented Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. So even if hosting a CIA prison is the price to pay, I believe they wouldn't mind.