The Prisoner: Behind Bars in Putin's Russia

by Vladimir Pereverzin, Anna Gunin (translator)

‘I am haunted by the feeling that it is not me I’m writing about, but some other man who lived through it all. It is as though I was watching a film about him, reading a book on him. And here is that book’Shocking, but laced with wry humour, Vladimir Pereverzin’s extraordinary story is of an ordinary man whose comfortable life is upended. Refusing to give false testimony against Yukos owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky, he is plunged into lengthy, brutal incarceration in Russia’s nightmarish prisons and penal colonies, including some in which political prisoner Alexei Navalny has been held.Vividly told in this skilful translation, Vladimir’s ultimately uplifting memoir was first published in Russian in 2013, but, given new laws enacted in Russia to punish those who oppose its ongoing ‘special operation’ in Ukraine, it is, if anything, even more topical today.-‘A very Russian story, and topical for all times . . . it tells you how to become truly free when deprived of liberty’ – Boris Akunin, author of the Erast Fandorin books

Genres: Audiobook

240 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2024

Reviews

[Andrew Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shocking story of a young economist who worked for the Russian oil and gas company Yukos. Between 2002 and 2004 he worked as a deputy director of Yukos' external debt at their Malta's office, The company was owned by the powerful Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorovsky. As he was critical of Putin, Khodorkovsky was arrested in 2003 and accused of tax fraud. Vladimir Pereverzin was to be a prosecution witness against Khodorovsky. When he refused, he got accused of money laundering and sentenced to 11 years. He spent over seven years behind the bars, and this book describes his stay there. This extraordinary book illustrates lawlessness and corruption within Russian judicial and penitentiary systems. The scale of damage to innocent people and those who are brave enough to disagree with the murderous regime is beyond comprehension. Hope one day those responsible will have to answer for their depravities.

[Kira K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is not the easiest read and at times felt almost unbelievable to a Westerner but Pereverzin is able to share his real life as an innocent framed man for 11 years in an impressive way. Pereverzin manages to keep his facts straight when he is telling them despite his feelings experiencing it while still getting the emotional impact across and even at times having a comedic twist to make the reader feel at ease. It’s a personal and insightful into the injustices in the Russian justice system and the damages they cause.

Favourite Quote:
“How on earth could all this have happened?"The number of times I have asked myself that.
It boggles the mind quite how far Russia lags behind the civilised world, where the justice system is the bedrock of a harmonious society. When each citizen can appeal against an official's action or inaction, this, in turn, ensures that the full rights, freedoms and equality of all members of society are upheld.”

[Polly Krize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A young economist, Vladimir Pereverzin was sentenced to 11 years in prison after refusing to be a witness to money laundering in Yukos, an oil and gas company in Russia. The damage from the Russian judicial and penitentiary system along with speaking up against Putin's regime is obvious in this young man's story.

[Christine Lapping · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrifying recounting of 7 years unjustly incarcerated in the Russian penal system, because he wouldn't lie in court regarding the false accusations against Khodorkovsky in the Yukos trial. Should be read alongside Khodorkovsky's "My Fellow Prisoners".

[Citrusiq · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting reading, but unknown what is reality and what it fiction

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very long winded and a chore to finish.

[Justa Guy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Note: Having read The Gulag Archipelago, I needed to read but four chapters of this to know that nothing in the Russian penal system has changed, except maybe the sparing of prisoner's lives.