JUSOVAČA- OLD TURKISH PRISON IN OLD PODGORICA

 

 

Jusovaca was the object with more than just simple interesting history and for a long time it atract the the great deal of attention, especially of those who never were the «guests» within it, in the time when Jusovaca was an active prison. On arrival in Titograd (now Podgorica) travelers were almost forced to face row of buildings, with big wall around them and four of watchtowers on four corners of the object. If they want to know about Jusovaca and their histiry, almost all they could collect is some story about old prison – story which one of old settlers from Podgorica could tell to him, nobody else. Because, there are no written trace of documents about Jusovaca at all, nor about it importance for the city and its citizens. Who knows, maybe the reason is hiden in the fact that Montenegrin are not kean to tell the stories about prison places at all... Especially if convicting is a result of minor crimes and political unfitness, what was very popular during 20. century. It turn out that in Montenegro one could find almost every detail about world famous prisons, such as are Alcatraz and Tower, but nothing about local, relatively small prison like Jusovaca was, or about prison at island of Grmozur on Skadar Lake, sometimes called «Montenegrin Alcatraz».

Anyway, based on poor historical sources about the place, we know that Jusovaca has very vivid history. The name – Jusovaca – came from well known at the time «zabit» of Podgorica (comander of Turkish police forces), Jusuf – Juso Mucin Krnic. In the middle of 19. century the place was used as drill field for training of Turkish soldiers. During the 60-ies of 19. century Juso Mucin purchased the house, which acted as a magazine in the beginning. As there was no adequate space for those who were against Turkish empire, at the time being, this object was transform in prison, and after that capacity started to extend. By some sources from that time, the prison was for petty crimes and smuglers at the beginning, more like temporary custody.

Man who established Jusovaca lived not long enough – he was murdered by fellow townsman Pero Popovic from Kuci, former coworker of Juso, who also was killed during the incident. That happen in the center of Podgorica, at October in 1874. That incident will lead to great Turkish revenge and death of several dozens of Montenegrins in Podgorica, in history known as «Podgorica slaughter». After international action special committee was formed and after the trial five Turks were sentenced to death penalty.  

After «Berlin congres» in 1878. when Podgorica gained Montenegrin authority, Prince Nikola retain same usage of Jusovaca. Therefore, Jusovaca remain the prison under new rulers, too, and from the beginning of 20. century, to be exact in 1905., when multi-party system was established (at least on the paper) in Montenegro, this institution becoming «meeting place» for «clubsmen» - members of People's Party, oponency to Prince Nikola's politics at the time. At the time of Austro-Hungary occupation of Montenegro Jusovaca was a prison for Montenegrin patriots. Beside that, Jusovaca was the place from which some people were lead away to be shot at that time.

In the time of Yugoslavia Kingdom Jusovaca will became real house of correction and beside convicted hard criminals, within its walls found them selves smuglers, especially tobacco smuglers. The story is that tobacco smugling was very big crime at the time. As a number of «guests» rising rapidaly, capacities of Jusovaca were small to withhold all prisoners. In that time started some kind of reconstruction, and building has started within a walls, but the war was faster...

Outstanding filling of Jusovaca's capacities was present during the II World War, especially from 1941. to 1943. in time of Italian occupation . The object was multi store and on upper store were four large rooms, and in the basement were 30 dark cells and two solitaires, nicknamed “dark rooms” by prisoners. Upper rooms were 8x5 meters. In every room were between 60 and 80 prisoners, and every room was nicknamed by prisoners: one «Kolasin room», the second «Podgorica room», third «Parachuter's room» and fourth «dregs room». That was old part of building used for men prisoners. For women and children, Italian occupation forces builded separate space, That was a women part of prison. Between men's and women's part of the prison was the wall, in order to prevent contact of prisoners, and in the yard of prison were water wells for drinking water supply. In time of occupation average number of prisoners, daily, was between 1500 and 2000, and for many of them that was a last living place, because they were taken for shooting from it.

After liberation, during SFRJ, this object within old part of Podgorica remained the same usage. It was house of correction and in time of «Informbureau affair» significant shelter for those who were later sent to «Naked Island», well known prison at the time. But, with construction of Spuz prison Jusovaca lost the importance. At the end of 60-ies of 20. century Jusovaca was used more like investigation prison, as well as prison for minor sentences. Interesting is that this object was in use as «sober space» where people who have to many drinks were taked till they were sober. Also, in Jusovaca were taken people who were «to loud» against current authorities. As measures of caution, in order to prevent some kind of local «clangs», especially in time of certain high visits on state level, some people were put in Jusovaca on day or two...

An so on, till 80-ies of 20. century, when the prison was shut and Jusovaca became home for certain number of families, including few families of former prison guards, in trouble after premature retirement, on political base in general.

Those who were prisoners in Jusovaca told about condition of being prisoner in Jusovaca that even worse was after some reconstruction works, because everything was unclean, unpainted and more terrifying than usual, especially rooms. Big filth, dirty walls, swarms of bedbugs… In some of rooms beds were constructed out from bared wooden boards, with no bed linen at all. In some room, in the basement, in the middle of the day were to dark to read, for example, to stuffy air to breath, and bedbugs were unbearable. In the basement was big, snacked door, and cells and dark rooms were on both sides of long corridor. Dark rooms were without outer windows, just toward corridor. These windows were very small, with iron bars, and rooms were not bigger than 3x3 meters. Much better was at the first floor in four bigger rooms, called «common rooms».