Athlete Jānis Višķers reflects on 15 months spent in prison

Latvian track athlete Jānis Višķers, known for setting the second-best half-marathon result in Latvian athletics history, has completed a 15-month prison sentence and is now speaking publicly about the experience.

Two years ago, Višķers was sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to offer a bribe. According to the indictment, in October 2022 he offered Ādaži municipal deputy Arnis Rozītis (LRA) 30,000 euros so that Rozītis would vote for a specific candidate during a council session electing a new council chairman. He was also allegedly promised a favorable position within the Ādaži municipal council in return. At the time, Višķers denied any wrongdoing, suggesting the criminal case may have been intended to block him from running for the position of head of the Ādaži sports centre.

Life behind bars

Višķers served his sentence at Riga Central Prison and later at Valmiera Prison, and was released early for good behavior. In the interview, he says imprisonment strips away most of everyday life's comforts — hygiene, a comfortable bed, decent food, and closeness with loved ones. He describes the conditions as harsh and coarse, though he cautions against portraying everything in overly dark terms.

Support and new acquaintances

The athlete says none of his close relationships ended because of what happened — on the contrary, he received support from those around him. In prison, Višķers got to know other inmates, including a Belarusian man who ended up there over a misunderstanding related to transporting goods across the border. Višķers recalls that the people he met in the first weeks were kind, generous and had a strong sense of humor, and he remembers sharing genuine laughter with them. He says conflicts were rare, as most people tried to get along.