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The latest thriller from Dailius Dargis’ criminal documentary “Hollywood Monster from Lithuania” is not without reason from Kaunas, which the writer shared with readers of “Kauno diena”.
An exceptional prisoner
More than thirteen years after the first Los Angeles court ruling, Yuri Kadamov, the only Lithuanian citizen sentenced to death and imprisoned at Tere Hote in the United States, has not given an interview to the American media, has provided a documentary about it, began to write a memoir and returned. hobby: playing the drums. But the day came when the mortal wanted to draw the public’s attention to himself again.
2010 In December, just before Christmas, an original exhibition of artwork was presented at a restaurant in Kaunas, near the former High School 35, where I once studied in the early grades. On display are canvases painted by Kaunas artist Gytautas Balkevičius and J. Kadamov and his friend Jurijus Michaelis, who were sentenced to death by the United States.
G.Balkevičius of Kaunas told writer D.Dargis that he once helped J.Kadamov rediscover the connection with members of his former family living in Lithuania.
According to mortals
G. Balkevičius, famous for his eccentric works of art, learned J.Kadamov’s story from the press in the spring of 2010 and immediately painted several canvases. After a time, the Kaunas resident contacted J. Kadamov’s attorney, Barbara O’Connor, by email.
The Kaunas artist said the first correspondence was not promising. “I felt that the lawyer did not trust me,” recalled G. Balevičius. Incidentally, he is one of the few Lithuanian people who had to communicate directly by letters with J. Kadamov, a former Hollywood monster in the United States, who was sentenced to death in Los Angeles and was later a famous emigrant gang.
Soon G. Balkevičius of Kaunas received positive news that not only J. Kadamov himself, but also his former partner J. Michael agreed to join the unusual project. After agreeing to cooperate, the artist sent four canvases to the Atlantic, which both men, who spend their days behind bars, completed with their own strokes.
I remember that she almost cried and cheerfully asked, “I have a son, could you help him contact his father?”
It was agreed that J. Kadamov and J. Michael would complement the plot painted by Kaunas artist G. Balevičius on canvas. He painted crisscross lines and skulls on three canvases, and hopefully folded his hands over one. After a time, these paintings successfully returned to Kaunas, where everyone could see them. Unfortunately, the exhibition was short-lived and was not held in other Lithuanian cities.
At the same time, G. Balkevičius intended to present the unique exhibition in London on an urgent basis. The Kaunas artist had a serious reason for such a rush. In those days, G. Balkevičius admitted to me that he had received a letter prepared by J.Kadamov’s lawyers, announcing that if the court did not comply with the complaint, the death penalty could be carried out in Lithuania in the near future . However, the situation later changed significantly and they continued, but already separately, committed in art.
More than a decade ago, living in Kaunas, I prepared one of his first interviews with the painter G. Balkevičius. Even then, he spoke of not imagining his life without a pencil and oil paint. “It’s like drugs, I can’t resist. My mother kept me away from her modest income, so I devoted myself entirely to art.” In December Gytautas openly spoke about his passion for painting.
He said the idea of becoming an artist came up when he was twelve years old. Already in later times, while studying at the Kaunas Faculty of Arts of the Vilnius Academy of Arts, G. Balkevičius chose unusual posers for his works: the homeless in the temporary capital. Associative or balanced people on the brink of anti-socialism, 19th century. Inspired by the French impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in the late 19th century, Gytautas was interested in pure coincidence.
At night I drew at the station
Once during the conference, G. Balkevičius was given the task of drawing a human composition. So his friends and acquaintances refused to pose for even money. Then, as the subject of his work, he chose the city’s homeless people, who constantly sought refuge in the facilities of the Kaunas train station.
“I came at night, sat comfortably on the columns of the station, watched and then portrayed a bum on a piece of paper,” said G. Balevičius. – The biographies of some homeless people seeking heat at the time were very colorful. Several of them previously worked at the train station. But none of them sent me in three letters. “
The artist carefully painted the faces, hands, and shoes of the homeless. These details seemed the most expressive for Gytautas.
2001 G. Balkevičius became acquainted with a professor at the Moscow Academy of Arts. He was impressed by the works of the Kaunas resident and made sure they were displayed abroad. Gytautas’s works were soon exhibited in Washington, London, the Vatican and Berlin. Exhibitions of Kaunas’ works were held in private galleries in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Moscow.
Once, while still a student, Gytautas hitchhiked to Paris to visit the legendary Louvre Museum. “When I saw the works of famous artists at the Louvre, I was instantly amazed and suddenly wanted to go home. I felt like a milkman to be able to understand professional art, ”said G. Balevičius.
Since the beginning of his career, the artist has developed a rather unusual philosophy, which is why he imposes strict demands not only on himself. “From time immemorial, I was inspired by the saying of one of the creators of the philosophy of life, Friedrich Nietzsche:” I respect an artist who has enough bite of bread and an idea.
The first made contact
Some time ago, G. Balkevičius from Kaunas graduated with a master’s degree in painting. He was soon accepted into London’s elite artist circle as Harry Pye. The latter asks for impressive sums ranging from 3 to 5 thousand for an online image. British Pounds. The Lithuanian felt pleasant when he learned that he was recognized by the brightest representatives of contemporary art in the world.
“I have always been interested and fascinated by the subject of death in art,” said Gytautas. – Here is an artist who has stabbed a skull with diamonds, and has recently been highly valued and praised in world-class art. The theme of death is attractive to artists. “
Asked why he decided to contact the Lithuanian Kadamov, who had been sentenced to death in the United States, G. Balkevičius said: “I read the first articles in a publication in which Kadamov was sentenced to death in the United States. Anyway, I am isolated from the gangster world, I am not interested in their so-called “ponies”, other people are not very aware of their customs. But interested in the death penalty itself. I tend to look at everything philosophically. Frankly, I think Kadamov is guilty of the crimes he is accused of. “
The artist recalled the days when he sent the first letters to J. Kadamov, who was imprisoned behind bars. “In the United States, the legal framework is very complicated, but we started the correspondence with Kadamov. He wrote directly from the prison cell. When we started the correspondence, at that time, even his relatives did not have the opportunity to maintain any contact with him. He is accused of really serious murders and also tried to escape from prison. We can only imagine how the United States prison administration has reacted to all this. “
The people of Kadamov say that he has long been drawn to the entertainment business, so he may not have been a murderer but a successful Hollywood film producer.
A political case?
Gytautas is well aware of Kadamov’s criminal stories that he had previously killed wealthy, well-known and influential residents of Los Angeles.
“It is said that one of the assassins appeared to be related to the then Georgian president. I heard this version that after the massacre of the last two men (ambitious in Hollywood and with the intention of creating a new version of the success of the Soviet film Man Amphibian by Nikolai Charabad and Georgy Soyev), the Georgian president called former US President George Herbert Walker directly from former US President Bush 1989 to 1993) and said something like, “Listen, what’s going on in your country about the brutal murder of Georgians ? “At the end of the conversation, GHWBush promised to discover the above circumstances,” G.Balkevičius introduced an unexpected new version.
The Kaunas artist was rumored to have seen an unprecedented number of Kadamov and his collaborators in the United States at the time, up to 150 agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). After all, it was not others who discovered the criminals involved in the kidnappings and massacres. They also took J. Kadamov, who had migrated from Vilnius to Los Angeles, to the bank.
Gytautas discovered an even more varied knowledge about J. Kadamov after the presentation of his exhibition of painted painting in Kaunas. “When I presented our joint works of art, several serious people approached me and revealed to me some hitherto little-known facts about the Kadamov case,” the interlocutor said enigmatically.
Ordered books
Gytautas stated that, in his correspondence with the letters, J. Kadamov had always denied that he had at least contributed to the heavy crimes in the United States, for which he was later sentenced to death. “He, like many, said: ‘I am innocent, the environment is to blame.’ He went on to explain about the law that he was the first citizen of the European Union to be sentenced to death. That all this is inhuman, G. Balkevičius shared his ideas “Yes, at this point I support his position. After all, it’s easier to make a person in an electric chair. What if he ever accidentally says he was really innocent? After all, everything happens in life. For that’s against the death penalty. I think if a person does something wrong, they should suffer for their wrongdoings. And if you take it and fold it, you still won’t feel a thing. “
The artist said he was somewhat impressed by the fact that J. Kadamov, who had been sentenced to death, had become a self-taught painter with good vision. “I wanted to help him in some way. I remember that I was in a pretty difficult financial situation myself, but I found the Russian books he asked for on spiritual subjects. I bought it and immediately sent him to jail. It was fun that person wanted to improve spiritually, – Gytautas said. “It seemed that I paid 40 or 50 litas, but it was very difficult to find those books. Unexpectedly, I saw a small library of specific literature, which at that time operated next to the War Museum in Kaunas. It is never more to help people when I feel they tend to improve, to educate. If someone gets into trouble, I should always help.
Interested in the death penalty itself. I tend to look at everything philosophically. Frankly, I think Kadamov is to blame for the crimes he is accused of.
The relationship faded
Gytautas said he last corresponded with J. Kadamov in 2015. “I always wrote him letters in English and only through Lithuanian diplomats in the United States. After all, he was strictly supervised, only a few people could contact him: a priest, a lawyer, and a diplomat, G. Balevičius recalled. “He couldn’t keep in touch with his wife or children. I interacted a little with his lawyer, B. O’Connor, but then he reminded me of an overly arrogant and expressive American. The best way to communicate was through a benevolent employee of the Lithuanian Embassy in the United States at the time. I had no other opportunity to contact J. Kadamov. “
When a message appeared in the media about the exhibition organized by G.Balkevičius in Kaunas, during which J.Kadamov’s paintings were presented, the artist received an unexpected call. He was called by J. Kadamov’s first wife, Jūratė Kadamovienė, who lived in Vilnius.
“I remember that he almost cried directly and asked cheerfully,” I have a son, could you help him contact his father? “I immediately agreed to help and gave them all the contacts so they could start communicating as soon as possible. Then, when I had already established contact with J. Kadamov, they really began to communicate by letter and by phone,” Gytautas said.
After a while, the Kaunas artist received a message that Gabrielius, the son of J. Kadamov, was angry with him because he wanted at least one image of his father to be painted in a US prison.
“J.Kadamov and I painted and organized a small exhibition of our paintings in Lithuania. In total, we paint four common paintings. It was the only exhibition of its kind organized in Kaunas, – said G. Balkevičius. – Although almost a decade has passed, I did not have the specific intention of selling or selling these paintings, since I am rarely involved in general trade. Yes, I could sell them, but I choose a lot of people who express the desire to buy my works. In any case, I am not a merchant, I am a more ideological person, a humanist who has preserved certain human values. I would not like to praise myself, but in the art market my paintings are much more coveted than the works of J. Kadamov. “
Gytautas knows that on a special website (http://www.yurikadamov.com/home) J. Kadamov once published about his joint paintings. On this website, the infamous Lithuanian mortal was introduced as a person who interacts with artists and engages in social activities.
“I am glad to hear that I helped J. Kadamov at least to some extent,” said G. Balevičius. – Like her son, because she wanted him to reconnect with his father after many years. I was encouraged when I discovered that they began to communicate. After all, these people’s lives are shattered. But then I felt that things were not going as they were at the beginning of our knowledge. “
When asked who separated him the most from J. Kadamov and his surroundings, the frustrated Kaunas resident said: “The son became too much for the father to handle, so it all gradually ended. They even wrote to me once that they and their father were supposed to turn to American lawyers who supposedly had certain rights over our co-painted works. It surprised me. It was a painful lesson that you can’t trust people too much. “
The shadow of the “Vilna Brigade”
“I am a Russian-born Russian, I was sentenced to death by a federal court in the United States for crimes I did not commit. I am also the first and only citizen of the European Union in the death penalty wing of federal prison in the United States, “began my letter to the writer, journalist D. Dargis a few years ago. J. Kadamov.
J. Kadamov, who once played drums in Vilnius restaurants, is today called the only Lithuanian sentenced to death in the United States.
D.Dargis’ eighth book reveals not only the psychological portrait of J. Kadamov, as a person who once played a drum and video cassette rental and limousine rental business in Vilnius. Representatives of J. Kadamov’s family living in Lithuania – former spouse and business partners, friends speak openly here. In the book you will also learn a lot of interesting facts about the criminal organization of the “Vilna Brigade”, the family of Georgijus and Boris Dekanidzi, the execution policy of executions in Lithuania and other countries of the world.
This summer marks the 25th anniversary of the last execution in Lithuania on July 12, 1995: the head of the Vilna “brigades”, Boris Dekanidze, was sentenced to death by journalist Vito Lingis.
Deanidze’s death sentence and his execution thus far have raised a number of conspiracy theories.
Some claim that a fatal shot from Boriai was fired in the basement of Lukiškės prison, others claim that on the way Vilnius – Panevėžys or even in the special Minsk prison. Every time there are people who say that most of the remnants of the “brigade” gang have moved to the United States.
It is in the United States and New York that Viktor Dekanidze, son of B. Decanidze, has been successfully established for some time. It is as if everyone had gone there, the head of the former “Vilna Brigade”, who enjoys his free life there and at that moment quietly redeemed his freedom.
B. Decanidze with her son Viktor, who is currently touring the world of legal business in New York, USA.
It is true that some people in the vicinity of B. Decanidze have repeatedly emphasized that on the day of the funeral they did not see everyone in the coffin, but Boris himself, supposedly recognizing him by his hands.
It is true that a very interesting letter came to the writer D. Dargis from a person who knew Lithuanian criminal authorities well in the 1990s. He wrote when he saw that the latest book “Hollywood Monsters of Lithuania” had been published and assured that J. Kadamov was none other than a mediator, a money transporter between the men of the old Vilnius mafia gang and the police of the then capital. It is alleged that he had brought up to 250,000 people to one of Vilna’s law enforcement officers before the fateful announcement of the decision in the V. Lingis murder case. Dollars that had to redeem Boria’s freedom.
Decanidze’s son, Victor (right), greets current New York Mayor Bill de Blasio at one of the receptions.
This source stated that one person (his last name is known) even has a video of how well-known Vilnius law enforcement officers from that time were feasting at the same table with the Vilnius Brigade brigades. Informal “meetings” between Vilna bandits and law enforcement officers were held at the Vilna Palace of Sports bar and casino facilities. Incidentally, it was outside the sports hall that the headquarters of J. Kadamov’s company, established in 1995, specializing in limousine rental was established. Today, there is almost no doubt that J. Kadamov started the aforementioned business at the time with money loaned by the men of the Vilna Brigade.
Photos from D. Dargis ‘book “Hollywood Monsters of Lithuania”, photo from D. Dargis’ personal archive.
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