Beyond Freedom: Photos Inside Russia’s Prison System

Spotlight
Michael Zhang

As of October 1, 2018, there were 575,686 people in the institutions of Russia’s penitentiary system. For each of these people, the reality of being in one of the penitentiary institutions is simultaneously a problem, a conflict, and a compromise. But probably to the greatest extent, it’s a compromise.

That is the form of adaptation — the convicted individual accepts changing conditions by adopting new requirements to live by and new living conditions to dwell in. Every day is a compromise with himself or herself, with representatives of the state, with other convicts, and with his or her relatives…

Smoke break
The poster reads: “Remember, they are waiting for you at home.”
Delivery of a hot lunch to the barracks of the colony of strict regime
A sign showing the best students, the best athletes, and production leaders.

Reeducation of criminals by labor
Everyone is equal before the law: both old and young

Valentine’s prisoner
Checkpoint

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