Originally built as an infirmary in 1900, it was used as a military prison by a long succession of regimes including the Soviets, Nazis and most recently, the Latvians. Indeed, the last prisoner was detained here as recently as 1997, a disturbing thought once you’ve seen the frightening scenes inside. Although the Nazis sentenced ‘criminals’ such as Latvian deserters to death here and executed them outside in the yard, the post-independence Latvian military mostly imprisoned barroom brawlers, drunks and seamen who went AWOL and then usually only for a few days. A tour of the building will reveal the horrible life lived by the inmates and the graffiti they left behind. Above the door in the solitary confinement cell is a cryptic message: ‘izeja no elles’ or ‘exit from hell.’

02.11.2016

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