Lukiškės Prison

Lukiškės Prison (Lithuanian: Lukiškių tardymo izoliatorius kalėjimas, Polish: Więzienie na Łukiszkach) is a prison in the center of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, near the Lukiškės Square. It houses approximately 1,000 prisoners and employs around 250 prison guards. Most of the prisoners are placed under temporary arrest awaiting court decisions or transfers to other detention facilities, but there is also a permanent prison with about 180 inmates; about 80 of them are sentenced for life.

The prison was built in 1904, during the times of the Russian Empire. At the time it was one of the most technologically-advanced prisons in the empire. It had central heating and water supply, modern plumbing and ventilation. The complex also includes Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church. After more than a century of continuous service, the prison suffers from overcrowding and is in need of investment in thorough improvements. The prison is located in a prestigious area, next to the Seimas Palace. Discussions about relocating it have continued for several years, but the process is slow and is estimated to be completed by 2011.

In June 1941, during the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Soviet NKVD (secret police) massacred prisoners at Lukiškės Prison (see NKVD prisoner massacres). The prison became even more infamous during World War II, when it was used by the German Gestapo and Lithuanian Saugumas. During the German occupation of Lithuania the prison served as a holding cell for thousands of Poles as well as Jews, selected by the Nazis from the Vilna Ghetto for executions at Ponary (Paneriai). When Soviets reoccupied the territory in 1944, the prison once again became used by NKVD, housing thousands of Polish activists and partisans of Armia Krajowa.

Notable prisoners

  • Menachem Begin, former Prime Minister of Israel
  • Mykolas Biržiška, Lithuanian politician
  • Bertrand Cantat, French singer
  • Kazimierz Pietkiewicz, Polish socialist and independence activist
  • Jonas Vileišis, Lithuanian publisher and diplomat
  • Jakub Wygodzki, Polish-Lithuanian Jewish politician
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Lentpjūvių skersgatvis 10A, Vilnius 01109, Lithuania Get directions

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