As we all know, prisons, as tools of state rule, have always been a symbol of harshness, so some people fear them like tigers. But there have also been "nostalgic" prisons in history, i.e. during the Tsarist period.
It is well known that Tsarist Russia was very tolerant of political prisoners. At that time, Russia did not only have dark prisons, but also a wind of freedom that pervaded society. Even as a political prisoner, Lenin's life in prison did not seem too bad, at least he could read a large number of books freely, and even in terms of diet, he could get enough food.
In fact, Lenin's special treatment was not an isolated case, but a product peculiar to that era. The writer Solzhenitsyn once likened the Russian prison system to the horns of the regime, the so-called "run-in system". The Tsar wanted to smooth out the edges and corners of political prisoners in order to appoint them at a timely manner. So it is enough to mention the preferential treatment mentioned above.
During the Tsarist Period, political prisoners were treated more than other prisoners. Solzhenitsyn once mentioned that many political prisoners receive special attention from interrogators during interrogations, and even respect the privacy of prisoners when questioned. This certainly indicates the special policies of the Tsarist period, but it also shows respect for the readers. It has to be said that human rights were not a dead letter during the Tsarist period.
"Exile to Siberia" was the main method of punishment during the Tsarist period. In practice, however, this exile is not in the traditional sense, but a preferential treatment for prisoners. According to records, Siberia at that time was a paradise for political prisoners, where prisoners only had to do some simple labor activities, and the rest of the time could be at their disposal. Many of the prisoners even became friends with the local farmers, and that little life was a moist life!
Lenin was a witness to the Tsar's prison and one of its beneficiaries. In 1897, Lenin was sentenced to three years of exile for attacking the Tsar's decree. When he arrived at the place of exile, he was surprised to find that the place was not bad, so he told his old mother that "this village is not too bad", which shows that the Tsar really wants to make friends with political prisoners.
During the exile, Lenin's life was comfortable and comfortable. How comfortable is it? Not only could he go hunting in distant places, but he could also regularly receive newspapers and periodicals from all over the world, and even discuss the philosophy of life with his exiled revolutionary friends. Originally, Lenin's wife Krupskaya, worried about his health, brought her old mother to Lenin's place of residence to take care of him. I'm afraid Krupskaya is also a little overwhelmed.
The prison system of the Tsarist period reflected the "democratic atmosphere" characteristic of that era. From alexander I onwards, the ruling class noticed the unique role of intellectuals. In order to win them over, the Tsar did not hesitate to create a relaxed environment to alleviate their dissatisfaction with the government. As a result, many revolutionary leaders with exile experience were created. In the case of the October Revolution, those like Trotsky and Stalin were witnesses of the exile system.
Although the idea of the Tsar was very good, the revolutionaries did not think so. The revolutionary's idea is simple, since you didn't kill me, then I'm not welcome! A large number of revolutionaries read progressive books during the exile, and even joined hands with comrades-in-arms everywhere, setting off a movement that swept the country and laid the foundation for the October Revolution that followed.
In 1917, the October Revolution broke out and the tsarist system collapsed. In the face of the captive Tsar and his family, the revolutionaries showed ruthlessness. One night in 1918, the sleeping Tsar's family was sentenced to death. I am afraid that Nicholas II did not believe in the real reason for killing him until his death, after all, he was only exiled to his enemy Lenin! I have to say that the struggle is either your death or my life.
Later in the Soviet Union, millions of people were purged for a variety of reasons. In the disclosed archives alone, a whopping 2.5 million people have been arrested for counter-revolution and political reasons. Obviously, in the Highly Centralized State of the Soviet Union, politics always took precedence over other crimes. Even the meritorious Marshal of the Soviet Union could not escape the nightmare of the "Great Purge"!
Many of them were political prisoners during the purge. In the face of the high-pressure environment, they all miss the relaxed environment of the Tsarist period at that time, but what they lost was irreparable, and the suffering would eventually have to be borne by themselves!