Harsh Conditions in New Russian Barracks for Political Prisoners

Living Conditions for Inmates in Penal Colony No. 3

According to Главком: In Russia's Magadan region, authorities have set up a separate barracks within Penal Colony No. 3 specifically for individuals convicted on political charges. Designed to hold about 120 people, this facility is marked by severe conditions: extreme cold, dampness, limited hygiene access, and grueling labor. Inmates face a rigid daily schedule-wake-up at 5:45 AM, dinner at 5:00 PM, lights out at 10:00 PM-and are allowed to shower only once a week.

Prisoners are assigned heavy or meaningless tasks, and any rule violation can lead to solitary confinement. Those held here include:

• retirees
• business owners
• doctors
• media workers
• public sector employees

Notably, one man was sentenced after expressing a wish for Vladimir Putin's death, another for social media comments, and a third following a neighbor's report about a private conversation on the war. Separately, a 38-year-old woman from Krasnodar received a 13-year prison term for transferring funds to support Ukraine's armed forces.

Brutal Regime and Surveillance of Inmates

Colony staff refer to the prisoners as terrorists. The barracks are perpetually cold and damp, adding to the hardships. Inmates report constant searches, inadequate medical care, and a shortage of warm clothing. Given that Magadan region experiences freezing temperatures as early as autumn, these conditions pose serious health risks. Political prisoners in Colony No. 3 face extreme challenges that underscore the harshness of the regime and their confinement.

The creation of a separate barracks for political prisoners in Colony No. 3 in the Magadan region is further evidence of escalating repression against those who express dissent with state policies.

The conditions described in this report point to systematic human rights violations, raising concerns within the international community. These events could impact Russia's domestic situation and its relations with other nations, particularly regarding human rights and political freedoms.