Monday, April 15, 2019

‘I Looked to the Sky and Asked God for Death’ – A Report from the Mordvinian Camps Today


Paul Goble

            Staunton, April 15 – In the final decades of Soviet power, Russian prison camps in Mordvinia were known as the worst places any prisoner political or not could be sent, a reputation they acquired largely on the strength of Valentyn Moroz’s samizdat classic, Report from the Beria Reserve (1974).

            Tragically, a new report by Radio Liberty’s Vadim Meshcheryakov suggests, they deserve that reputation to this day. He even entitles his long, detailed and depressing article about the situation there “The Mordvinian Colonies – Welcome to Hell” (idelreal.org/a/29880370.html).

            The journalist spoke with Lena Fyodorova, a former prisoner who knew many of the more famous “politicals” who continue to be confined in Mordvinian camps.  She recalled that when she was led into the camps, more senior prisoners shouted out at her “Welcome to Hell.”  That proved to be an understatement.

            Prisoners were forced to work far more hours than the norm, often until the middle of the night, when temperatures were far below zero.  They were not fed well and allowed to wash themselves only once a week. Some were beaten, and all were subjected to enormous psychological pressure, which was often worse than physical abuse, Fyodorova said.

            Indeed, things got so bad even for her, the Radio Liberty interlocutor said, that at one point, “I looked to the sky and asked God for death.” 

            She added that her experiences with human rights activists who came to the camps was anything but happy. They listened to her stories but then went and laughed with the prison guards and commandeers.  “They laughed over us – these aren’t helpers or defenders” however much they claim otherwise.

            “Thank God,” Fyodorova says, she only had to spend 30 months in the Mordvinian camp. She would not wish such misery on anyone. And she is certain that those who inflicted injuries and even deaths on prisoners will have to “answer before God” even if they never have to answer before a judge serving the same system they do.

No comments:

Post a Comment