The prison and its surroundings in winter. Guards are allowed to shoot an escaping prisoner after he has crossed the middle wooden fence. It is more humane to shoot an escaping prisoner, there is nothing for miles and would most likely starve. Investigations surrounding the shooting of an inmate rely heavily on the position the body is found in. If the prisoner’s head is facing away from the camp, he is presumed an escapee and the case is closed. newrepublicThis photo shows the head of IK-28, a maximum-security Russian penal colony, located in Yertsevo, in the northern Arkhangelsk region near the Arctic Circle. It was once part of a cluster of camps founded in the late 1930s as part of the Gulag system. Today, it houses over 1,000 prisoners, many of whom were convicted on murder or terrorism charges. newrepublicRoll call is taken three times a day. Escape is nearly impossible. newrepublicA young rabbi from Moscow leads a ceremony with Jewish prisoners. Prison authorities tolerate all religions, figuring that a practicing prisoner is less trouble than an idle one. newrepublicAn inmate baking bread for the prisoners’ breakfast. newrepublicAn inmate walks past the prison barracks on his way to his daily work mandate. newrepublicPrisoners are kept in distinct sectors to prevent them from sharing items and ideas with other groups. For example, prisoners convicted of terrorism charges (mainly from Chechnya) are kept together in one sector. newrepublicPrisoners walking past a Russian Orthodox Church back to their sectors after dining. newrepublicThe sign reads, ‘Every employee is a teacher and a controller’. newrepublicThese prison guards are on a 2-hour, 25-kilometer trip for a shift change with guards at a colony-settlement of about 100 non-dangerous prisoners. It’s about -31ºF outside, and around 10ºF inside the truck. newrepublicThis inmate oversees the prison’s Russian Orthodox church, which is attended by about 30 inmates. newrepublicThis inmate was allowed to keep his mustache after proving that it was a part of his family heritage dating back to the 16th century. newrepublicThis prisoner, convicted of killing two people, chops wood. newrepublicA prisoner chopping trees as his daily work. newrepublicLocals near the railway station. There are two trains a day out of Ercevo—one to Arkhangelsk in the morning, and one to Moscow in the evening. newrepublicThe dining hall. newrepublicWorkers return to their sector at night. newrepublicGuards form a perimeter, discouraging prisoners from making a run for it. There is nowhere to go. newrepublic
