Russia's feared prisons follow system from Soviet Gulag era
The IndependentFor 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. But a hunger strike by jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny cast a spotlight on the fear and torment that critics say are the signatures of Russia's prison system. Konstantin Kotov, who spent time in the penal colony 85 kilometers east of Moscow while serving an 18-month sentence for participating in an unauthorized protest, said RT's portrayal is accurate but superficial. Kotov said the guards at the prison appear eager to harass inmates by finding niggling procedural violations, such as failing to greet an officer or using gloves during an outdoor roll call in cold weather. In February, independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported on videos from a penal colony that it said showed beatings in 2016-2017, including of one inmate who died a month later.
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Russia’s political prisoners endure isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment
LA TimesWhat’s life like for Russia’s political prisoners? Isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment
Associated Press
What's life like for Russia's political prisoners? Isolation, poor food and arbitrary punishment
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