Inside Russia's Black Dolphin Prison

2013-10-09T20:38:33.552Z

Russian prisons are notoriously tough, but there's one that's even harder than the rest.

Called Black Dolphin, this high security prison on the Kazakhstan border houses the country's most brutal criminals, including serial killers, cannibals, and terrorists, according to a documentary by National Geographic.

One prison lieutenant told National Geographic that the only way to escape is by dying.

Black Dolphin is located near the Kazakhstan border. It gets its informal name from the statue out front, made by the prisoners themselves.

The prison houses about 700 inmates, including cannibals, serial killers, and terrorists.

Combined, the inmates have killed about 3,500 people. That's an average of five murders per inmate.

Black Dolphin inmates are imprisoned for life. Vladimir Nikolayev is doing time for cannibalism.

Nikolayev killed a man during a drunken fight, then dragged him into his bathroom and chopped him up.

He ate some of the body, then gave the rest of the meat to a friend, whose wife served it to his family thinking it was kangaroo. Nikolayev is one of Russia's most notorious murderers.

Black Dolphin prisoners are kept under constant, 24-hour video surveillance.

The cells are set back behind three sets of steel doors. Inmates live in a "cell within a cell."

Guards make rounds every 15 minutes.

When inmates leave their cells, they're forced to walk bent at the waist. This technique is believed to be unique to Black Dolphin.

Inmates are blindfolded when they walk outside.

These two techniques ensure that prisoners don't have a good understanding of prison layout.

Exercise, consisting of pacing back and forth, takes place in another cell. There is no prison yard.

During exercise time, guards inspect prison cells and check for contraband.

There is no cafeteria in Black Dolphin.

Prisoners eat their meals in their cells.

Inmates are fed soup and bread.

No inmate has ever escaped from Black Dolphin.

In comparison, American prisoners have it pretty good ...

Here's What Life Is Like Inside Russia's Toughest Prison

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Here's What Life Is Like Inside Russia's Toughest Prison

Black Dolphin is located near the Kazakhstan border. It gets its informal name from the statue out front, made by the prisoners themselves.

The prison houses about 700 inmates, including cannibals, serial killers, and terrorists.

Combined, the inmates have killed about 3,500 people. That's an average of five murders per inmate.

Black Dolphin inmates are imprisoned for life. Vladimir Nikolayev is doing time for cannibalism.

Nikolayev killed a man during a drunken fight, then dragged him into his bathroom and chopped him up.

He ate some of the body, then gave the rest of the meat to a friend, whose wife served it to his family thinking it was kangaroo. Nikolayev is one of Russia's most notorious murderers.

Black Dolphin prisoners are kept under constant, 24-hour video surveillance.

The cells are set back behind three sets of steel doors. Inmates live in a "cell within a cell."

Two inmates share one 50-square-foot cell.

Guards make rounds every 15 minutes.

When inmates leave their cells, they're forced to walk bent at the waist. This technique is believed to be unique to Black Dolphin.

Inmates are blindfolded when they walk outside.

These two techniques ensure that prisoners don't have a good understanding of prison layout.

Exercise, consisting of pacing back and forth, takes place in another cell. There is no prison yard.

During exercise time, guards inspect prison cells and check for contraband.

There is no cafeteria in Black Dolphin.

Prisoners eat their meals in their cells.

Inmates are fed soup and bread.

No inmate has ever escaped from Black Dolphin.

In comparison, American prisoners have it pretty good ...

What Life Is Like For The 2 Million People Behind Bars In The US »

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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