VChK-OGPU and Rucriminal.info continue reporting on Correctional Colony No. 5 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Kirov Region, where Igor Strelkov-Girkin is serving his sentence. He is far from the only high-profile inmate of this penal colony. Akhmat club fighter and world shootboxing champion Salman Dzhamaldayev also served his sentence there. He was arrested in November 2021 with mephedrone, which was given to him by a teenage drug courier. As a result, Dzhamaldayev was charged under Part 2 of Article 228 of the Criminal Code (illegal acquisition and possession of narcotics) and Part 4 of Article 150 of the Russian Criminal Code (involving a minor in the commission of a crime), and was sent to Penal Colony No. 5. There, he was actively supported by Akhmat and had the status of "overseer" (and this was in a model "red" penal colony). However, Dzhamaldayev didn't stay there long. Following a well-established scheme for special residents of Chechnya, his sentence was commuted to forced labor in Grozny, and by early 2025, Dzhamaldayev was released.
Lawyer Vadim Lyalin, who was recently sentenced to 14 years in prison in the case of security officials who extorted 15 billion rubles, was serving his first sentence in Penal Colony No. 5. Former FSB officer Ivan Shumigai, convicted of extorting 100 million rubles from the management of the National Radiotechnical Bureau, is currently serving his sentence in this penal colony.
According to a source at the Cheka-OGPU and Rucriminal.info, since Arvachev's appointment as head of Penal Colony No. 5, prisoners and their families have been facing major problems. There's no supply of footwear or clothing in the correct size or season. Furthermore, it's impossible to send shoes from outside, either by parcel or package.
Arvachev has completely disrupted the parcel reception system. Before his arrival, 10 to 15 parcels were received per day. Now, one window is open for three hours a day and accepts a maximum of six or seven parcels. The colony has over 1,200 inmates. This single window also accepts requests for visits, parcels, lawyers, and staff. The parcel window is covered with reflective film, obscuring the staff's actions when accepting parcels. The receptionist is constantly out of work, always opening the window late, but always closes it on time, sometimes even earlier. Food is mixed, and the products can be completely shredded. The reason given is the need for a thorough inspection.
According to the source, Arvachev openly told representatives of the food delivery companies that he would force them all out. Others would take their place. Rumor has it, relatives close to Arvachev.
Relatives arriving for long-term visits can't always get them, even if they've registered through Gosuslugi. They're simply turned away under the pretext of a lack of rooms. For example, on January 24, 2026, two families who registered through Gosuslugi were denied visits under this pretext.
The hotel for long-term visits is a complete wreck. The rooms are in disrepair: peeling wallpaper, 1960s furniture, beds cobbled together from desks. The stoves don't work. The shower hose simply lies on the floor. There's mold on the walls in rooms 6 and 9, but people are still accommodated there. The refrigerators also don't work.
Even children arriving for visits are thoroughly searched, and with violations – they're forced to strip to their underwear.
When visiting their loved ones, relatives are faced with problems even accessing the area adjacent to the penal colony.
Arvachev ordered a barrier installed on a road owned by the city municipality, which was repaired this summer with federal funds. The blocked road isn't cleared, and people are forced to slide down the hill on the ice with heavy bags. The traffic police have issued an order to remove the illegally installed barrier, but no one is enforcing it.
After the bathhouse, prisoners are forced to stand in the holding cells for 30-40 minutes in the freezing cold and are not allowed into the prison unit. As a result, the prisoners have become increasingly ill. But access to the infirmary is practically impossible. And even if you do, don't expect help. Instead of a therapist, a narcologist works there. If a person's temperature is below 38°C (102°F), the doctor sends them to work, claiming they're faking it. If the fever is elevated or something serious, there's only one treatment for all illnesses: a paracetamol tablet. Getting medication from outside is a big problem.
And then there's the issue of parole. A source says that getting out for free has become practically impossible. Since Arvachev's arrival, lawyer Ilona Karelina has joined the penal colony. The director himself advertises her to prisoners who, according to him, have money. Those who work with other lawyers are usually simply rejected for parole by the commission and given a bad reference to the court.
There are no set fees for the "package of documents" with a positive reference for parole. Each person is required to provide the necessary information based on their financial capabilities. For example, a former jeweler serving time in a penal colony was recently asked to pay 5 million rubles.
Another "innovation" from Arvachev has recently emerged: prisoners are now required to pay utility bills upon release Clothes, etc. The amount is deducted from the monthly salary.
Complaining about Arvachev to the Federal Penitentiary Service is futile. The fact is that his close friend is Kirill Popov, head of the Kirov Region Federal Penitentiary Service; they used to work together in a penal colony.
