In the colony for life-term prisoners with a beautiful name “snowflake” in the Khabarovsk Krai there is an art workshop. Here two prisoners write icons. One of them is Ilya Tikhomirov received a “perpetual” term for the explosion in 2006 in the Cherkizovsky market of Moscow (then 14 people were killed). The terrorist opened for communication.
You originally were in the “Black eagle”, and then “Snowflake”. Is there any difference between these two colonies?
– Yes, essential. First of all, in the domestic environment. There was an old colony, small capacity. Without running water, without sanitation. First, in the corner was a bucket for urinating (for years, probably six). Then around this bucket out of plywood lined the walls, get something like a closet. That’s “wardrobe” and used until the closure of the colony. In General, I’m in jail (including jail, a transit prison) for more than 13 years. Every seen. In “Snowflake”, believe me, good conditions.
so Many years since the explosion has passed. You many scary details, probably, have forgotten…
– No, haven’t forgotten anything. Not everyone wants to tell it. But I’m willing to do it to my story has become for young people a warning. And no one has repeated my way.
it All started with the youth Center and municipal art, which was a sports section, which was led by Nikolai Korolyov (the organizer of the explosion – Approx. ed.). I signed up to. I was 15 years old. I played sports on their own: dumbbells, chin-up bar. But I wanted to do it more systematically, under the supervision of a trainer. And there was self-defense, with an emphasis on preparation for military service. Hand to hand combat.
Your “philosophy” then Nikolai Korolev not promoted?
– This was not. Over the next five to six years, slowly began to show what you’re talking about. As part of the summer sports camps. Again, this is all so gently, slowly, in such small steps. Ordinary everyday discourse related to immigration policy, crime, ethnic.
Then he offered to try to make a bomb. I was charged with. Information on the Internet looking for. Bad business not artful. Somewhere in the few hours it took to get the bomb was ready.
the First explosion, according to the materials of the case, you gave the fortune-teller’s house.
– Yes. Nicholas I complained to the teller, said she was one of his friends ruined, brought to mind. Decided to blow to punish this woman. And here I made this mix, came in the guise of a visitor, said that the alleged right spell.
– And she felt nothing? Not anticipated?
– She felt that you can earn. “The first session is free, then according to the situation. This is a delicate matter, horoscope, and then will calculate. Further, the SL��INEE. Accordingly, there will be more costs” That is, she made it clear that it is expensive and long.
In General, I left there with that bomb. There were no casualties, just slammed. I don’t think after that she stopped people to cheat. Our idea was worthless.
Then in this section of Queens asked me to teach a few guys how to make a shell. And at night we blew up some trash. After the guys have made another, blew up the toilets. Everything was as childish rather.
When that happened, you knew that all already absolutely other way?
– to be Honest, I don’t know. The hostility is already formed by that time. Can’t say that I wouldn’t have guessed that.
– About the victims – you mean?
– Yes, there was a state of indifference. This bomb I made myself put. I was detained the same day on the spot.
understanding the scale of the tragedy came much later. The psyche is such that you avoid the bad thoughts. That is, as if the tragedy didn’t contact me personally, with my actions. It is this ability of the brain to come up with a bunch of excuses. Awful because to realize that you killed people. And here for a long time was the wall that separated me from it. And in the process, much later, little by little that barrier I could tear down. Logically I already got to understand all these things. Then I realized. It was already unbearably hard.
– Parents were in shock, I guess?
I think so. But they didn’t abandon me. Parents, no matter what, always love. Come here.
your girl?
– I didn’t Have one at the time. Appeared and then, as I understand. And some prisoners right here you get acquainted by correspondence, and then get married. As long as something has not developed.
– I 33 – the age of Christ.
– the Age of creativity. So I do. Draw loved since childhood. Probably from the age of six all sorts of mugs in art class visited. Art school graduated with honors, then enrolled at the University.
Behind bars immediately began to draw?
No. In General for a long time I did anything in detention. Even hide the fact that he knew how to draw, so no one did not bother me. I had internal exclusion from lessons. The feeling that I ruined everything. There was some irritation to the drawing as a reminder about what I lost.
Then I began to visit the priest. And during the conversation he learned that I was drawing. And he said to me, “But let’s write our icon”. I could not refuse.
What was this icon?
– Anastasia bond-releaser. Then I began to paint icons for the iconostasis.
– the person who draws the icons, you must fully repent. And probably the priest that you saw, just gave you is obedience.
I think so. Already much time has passed. The time of rebirth, fortunately, happened. Now I write icons every day. Now for a Church in Khabarovsk. One woman, the artist-restorer of the art Museum – remotely helps me to learn a new technique, writes letters, sends books.
this is one of your icons. Really Golden?
– Yes, I’m now gold leaf work too.
