Who organizes riots in Russian prisons? How do thieves-in-law serve their sentences? What's the difference between the "red" and "black" prisons? All this and more—in the new issue of IMHO.
Valera Valet is a thief-in-law with decades of experience in Russian prisons. In this interview, he explains how the criminal system works, how guards behave, and what happens when a riot breaks out. We discuss prisoners' rights, solitary confinement, pressure on inmates, and the degradation of the penal system. We share real-life stories of prisoners and provocateurs. How the regime works, why video cameras don't protect against arbitrary action, and whether it's possible to change Russia's criminal underworld—from a man who has lived in this world his entire life.

IMHO is a place where we interview amazing people. Here you'll find answers to the questions you've always wanted to ask but never had the courage to ask.

Timestamps:
00:00 Start
01:16 About the terrible conditions in prison
01:54 Why did prisoners stand up for their rights?
02:37 About how Valet's sentence was extended
04:16 About the "black" and "red" zones in prison
05:41 How Valet started a riot through a "run"
07:30 Who is really causing riots in prisons?
09:19 Why are modern prisons unbearable?
10:53 About modern recruitment methods
12:02 End