Inside Russia’s penal colonies: A look at life for political prisoners caught in Putin’s crackdowns
1 year, 6 months ago

Inside Russia’s penal colonies: A look at life for political prisoners caught in Putin’s crackdowns

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — When Alexei Navalny turns 47 on Sunday, he’ll wake up in a bare concrete cell with hardly any natural light. But Gorinov said prison officials still carry out “enhanced control” of the unit, and he and two other inmates get special checks every two hours, since they’ve been labeled “prone to escape.” There is little medical help, he said. “Right now, I’m not feeling all that well, as I can’t recover from bronchitis,” he said, adding that he needed treatment for pneumonia last winter at another prison’s hospital ward, because at Penal Colony No. She gets food parcels weekly, but there is a weight limit, and the 32-year-old can’t eat “half the things they give her there,” said her partner, Sophia Subbotina. Skochilenko “wouldn’t watch them in normal life, but in jail, it’s a distraction,” Subbotina said.

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History of this topic

U.N. expert says Russian prisoners sent to fight in Ukraine committing crimes when they return
3 months ago

U.N. expert says Russian prisoners sent to fight in Ukraine committing crimes when they return

LA Times  

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in the beginning of the active phase of the Ocean-2024 naval drills in the Kremlin in Moscow on Sept. 10. A U.N.-backed human rights expert monitoring President Vladimir Putin’s Russia decried increased violence in the country caused by former prisoners who have their sentences shortened or pardoned to fight in Ukraine and then return …

Dissidents freed in prisoner swap vow to keep up fight against Putin, recount details of release
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Dissidents freed in prisoner swap vow to keep up fight against Putin, recount details of release

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — When Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza was suddenly moved to a detention center in Moscow from a Siberian prison, he thought he was being taken there to be shot. Still, Kara-Murza stressed that such prisoner swaps are, in effect, “the saving of people’s lives.” The death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison on February …

Russia issues chilling warning to released US prisoners after historic swap: ‘Let the traitors now…’
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Russia issues chilling warning to released US prisoners after historic swap: ‘Let the traitors now…’

Hindustan Times  

Russia issued a stern warning to the political dissidents and Western citizens the Kremlin released from jails after they were freed on Thursday in the largest prisoner swap since the end of the Cold War. Russia's Dmitry Medvedev threatened the freed prisoners, stating that they should hide under “new names” and “actively disguise themselves”. Putin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza released from …

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

A political prisoner in Belarus smuggles out account of beatings after writing on toilet paper
8 months, 1 week ago

A political prisoner in Belarus smuggles out account of beatings after writing on toilet paper

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A political prisoner in Belarus has shed light on the country’s brutal prison system by smuggling out her story written on pieces of toilet paper. Although most political prisoners are kept in solitary confinement, Novikava said she was kept in the same cell as Marina Zolatava, editor-in-chief of the country’s largest independent online news outlet, Tut.by, who …

Russia’s political prisoners endure isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Russia’s political prisoners endure isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment

LA Times  

Long stints in punishment cells or other types of solitary confinement are a reality for many Russian political prisoners, according to watchdog groups, former inmates and their relatives. THE GULAG’S LEGACY Former inmates, their relatives and human rights advocates paint a bleak picture of a prison system that descended from the USSR’s gulag, documented by Alexander Solzhenitsyn in “One Day …

What’s life like for Russia’s political prisoners? Isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment
9 months, 3 weeks ago

What’s life like for Russia’s political prisoners? Isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment

Associated Press  

This story is part of a larger series on the crackdown on dissent in Russia. For political prisoners like Kara-Murza, life in Russia’s penal colonies is a grim reality of physical and psychological pressure, sleep deprivation, insufficient food, health care that is poor or simply denied, and a dizzying set of arbitrary rules. THE GULAG’S LEGACY Former inmates, their relatives …

What's life like for Russia's political prisoners? Isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment
9 months, 3 weeks ago

What's life like for Russia's political prisoners? Isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment

New Indian Express  

TALLINN: Vladimir Kara-Murza could only laugh when officials in Penal Colony No. For political prisoners like Kara-Murza, life in Russia’s penal colonies is a grim reality of physical and psychological pressure, sleep deprivation, insufficient food, health care that is poor or simply denied, and a dizzying set of arbitrary rules. This month brought the stunning news from a remote Arctic …

Belarus political prisoner dies after authorities fail to provide him with medical care, group says
11 months, 1 week ago

Belarus political prisoner dies after authorities fail to provide him with medical care, group says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A political prisoner has died in prison in Belarus after authorities failed to provide him with proper medical care, a human rights group said Monday, a death that spotlighted cruel conditions in Belarusian prisons. Khrasko, an information technology specialist who died at the age of 50, was serving a three-year sentence on charges of offering donations to …

Takeaways from the AP investigation into thousands of Ukrainian civilians held by Russia in prisons
1 year, 5 months ago

Takeaways from the AP investigation into thousands of Ukrainian civilians held by Russia in prisons

Associated Press  

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are detained in a network of formal and informal prisons across Russia and the territories it occupies, where they endure torture, psychological abuse and even slave labor. The AP spoke with dozens of people, including 20 former detainees, along with ex-prisoners of war, the families of more than a dozen civilians in detention, …

Kremlin critic in prison in northwest Russia, allies say
1 year, 10 months ago

Kremlin critic in prison in northwest Russia, allies say

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Allies and family members of an opposition politician imprisoned in Russia say he is being held in a restricted housing unit in a penal colony in the northwest of the country, isolated from most inmates and not allowed to make phone calls. Pivovarov’s ally and partner Tatyana Usmanova said on Monday that the politician’s mother was able …

EXPLAINER: What Griner may endure in Russian penal system
2 years, 1 month ago

EXPLAINER: What Griner may endure in Russian penal system

Associated Press  

LONDON — WNBA star Brittney Griner has begun serving her nine-year sentence for drug possession at a remote Russian penal colony that human rights advocates say is known for harsh conditions and violent criminals. “In Russia, Mordovia is known as ‘the land of prisoners.’ Its colonies descend directly from the Stalin-era camps, and have a reputation for being particularly strict,” …

EXPLAINER: What Griner may endure in Russian penal system
2 years, 1 month ago

EXPLAINER: What Griner may endure in Russian penal system

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy WNBA star Brittney Griner …

Russia 'hopes' US will return notorious 'merchant of death' in exchange for Brittney Griner
2 years, 1 month ago

Russia 'hopes' US will return notorious 'merchant of death' in exchange for Brittney Griner

Daily Mail  

Griner faces nine years behind bars in Russia after drug charges conviction Griner was moved to a hell hole jail in Russia where inmates are 'beaten' Russia said it hopes the US will return Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout - known as 'merchant of death' in exchange for Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap Russia today said it hoped the …

'If you desert, we'll execute you': 'Putin's chef' recruits convicts for war
2 years, 3 months ago

'If you desert, we'll execute you': 'Putin's chef' recruits convicts for war

The Telegraph  

The Russian oligarch known as 'Putin's chef' has been filmed making an extraordinary appeal to convicts, promising them amnesty on their sentences if they sign up to fight in Ukraine - and a bullet in the head if they desert when they get there. Yevgeniy Prigozhin, thought to the the founder and financier of the Wagner group of mercenary fighters, …

Another top opposition figure in Russia handed prison term
2 years, 5 months ago

Another top opposition figure in Russia handed prison term

The Hindu  

A Russian court on Friday sentenced a top opposition figure to a years-long prison term, the latest move in the Kremlin’s multipronged crackdown on opposition activists, independent media and rights groups. Earlier this week, a court in Moscow remanded another top opposition figure, Ilya Yashin, in custody pending investigation and trial on the charges of spreading false information about the …

Another top opposition figure in Russia handed prison term
2 years, 5 months ago

Another top opposition figure in Russia handed prison term

Associated Press  

A Russian court on Friday sentenced a top opposition figure to a years-long prison term, the latest move in the Kremlin’s multipronged crackdown on opposition activists, independent media and rights groups. Earlier this week, a court in Moscow remanded another top opposition figure, Ilya Yashin, in custody pending investigation and trial on the charges of spreading false information about the …

Another top opposition figure in Russia handed prison term
2 years, 5 months ago

Another top opposition figure in Russia handed prison term

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Russian court on Friday sentenced a top opposition figure …

AP PHOTOS: Belarus political prisoners, from teen to retiree
3 years, 4 months ago

AP PHOTOS: Belarus political prisoners, from teen to retiree

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Human rights activists describe the political repression taking place in Belarus as its worst since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin’s purges during the 1930s. If he doesn’t receive them, his condition worsens, his brain cells die.” VOLHA ZALATAR The 38-year-old mother of five children between the ages of 4 and 17 has been in custody since March awaiting …

Life in Russia’s ‘harshest’ jail: The prison colony that Alexei Navalny now calls home
3 years, 9 months ago

Life in Russia’s ‘harshest’ jail: The prison colony that Alexei Navalny now calls home

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Dmitry Demushkin, a far-right activist who spent just under …

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