For the last four years, I was cut off from the world. My daily routine followed a clear schedule with quite strict rules. I had to wake up at 6 a.m., and I couldn't change that. If I got out of bed even five minutes early or late, it could lead to serious consequences.

I was in a high-security prison. It isn't a fun place, but we tried to find little bits of happiness there. I'll tell what it was like. I allow myself to skip the part of my criminal journey that happened between my arrest and the moment I arrived at the prison. I'll talk about that next time.

So, I was delivered to a railway station that was located near the prison. Prisoners are transported by a special train called a "Stolypin Carriage". I was escorted by guards from the station to a prison truck. Soon I arrived at the prison.

I got out of the truck and was met by a fat officer. He was quite friendly and escorted me at a registration room. There, I was stripped and searched. Almost all of my things were threw out. While the officer was preparing the documents, a prisoner who had been in the room before I came in turned to me.

- Hey, you! Are you the right guy? Will you "knitted"?

- What?

There is a hierarchy among convicts in Russian prisons. "Knitted" refers to a person who doesn't take criminal orders and is ready to work in a prison. In other words, convict has an agreement with the prison administration and will be a good boy.

Why is it called "Knitted? In Russian, it sounds like "vyazanniy". The word "knitted" is a literal translation of this slang term. The word "vyazanniy" comes from the word "svyaz" which means "connection". So, "vyazanniy" refers to a person who has official connection with prison officers, this relationship defined by the document.

Oh, It's hard for me to explain concepts like this.

I became knitted and was sent to a quarantine wing for the next two weeks.