Behind the unassuming façade of Pagari 1 in Tallinn’s Old Town lies one of the most feared locations in Soviet-occupied Estonia. Originally built as an apartment house, this building later became the headquarters of the KGB in Estonia and a pre-trial prison. For decades, it symbolised Soviet terror and oppression.
The exhibition 'Locked Up Stories': The KGB in Estonia invites visitors into the basement cells where political prisoners were once held—sometimes up to 18 people in a single, airless room. Here, detainees faced harsh interrogations, mental and physical torture, and the constant fear of execution or deportation to Siberian labour camps.
A visit to the KGB Prison Cells offers a sobering yet essential insight into Estonia’s recent history—and a tribute to those who never gave up hope.