The Karosta prison

Valeri Sablin was pettty commander responsible for political education of the counter-submarine ship Storozhevoi. On the night of November 8 to 9 1975 V.Sablin stirred up a revolt on the ship and isolated its commander and part of its officers. The ship was going from Bolderāja (near Riga) to St.Petersburg (then – Leningrad). Sablin transmitted an appeal to the navy over the radio voicing ideas too radical for that time. In fact, Sablin was rather naïve to think that his appeal would attract attention and become the starting point of reforms. In about 10 hours the revolt was suppressed. The ship did not even manage to leave the Riga Gulf. This event caused a great confusion in the upper circles of the Soviet leadership. In order to hold down rumours and to keep Sablin beyond reach of foreign journalists, he was brought to Liepāja, to the guardhouse of the Naval Port. Sablin spent two weeks here in the guardhouse of the Naval Port. Later he was transferred to a Moscow prison by a special flight. The military panel of the Supreme Court sentenced Valeri Sablin to death. He was executed in August 1976. It was rumoured that Sablin had asked to meet Leonid Brezhnev (the leader of the USSR) and that his request had been granted. Rumours also had it that Sablin was burnt alive, not shot.