<< No 33 : 10 December 1974 >>
- 5-1. Camp 35, hunger strike, official reply.
- 5-2. Appeals, Bukovsky in the camp, Camp 36, hunger strike (1-13).
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13 ITEMS
[1]
In September Igor Ogurtsov (CCE 32.12) returned to Camp 35 from the Mordovian camp hospital [1].
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[2]
On 5 September over thirty people sent declarations with the following text to the Praesidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet:
“On 5 September 1918, through the decree “On the Red Terror’’ passed by the Soviet of People’s Commissars, concentration camps, later to be called forced-labour camps, were established in the USSR [2]. That day — 5 September 1918 — has been made symbolic by the millions of victims who resulted from that action.
“On this day of mourning, I protest against the ever-continuing tyranny and demand that my status as a political prisoner be recognized, and all the logical consequences put into effect.“
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[3]
FOUR HUNGER-STRIKERS
At the end of October Ivan Svetlichny, Vladimir Balakhonov, Zinovy Antonyuk and Semyon Gluzman sent an appeal to Academician Sakharov:
“We have now been on hunger strike for three months. We are demanding the right to be accorded the status of political prisoners.
“We have written to all the USSR authorities with silence as their only answer. In that way they leave the camp administration free to act as it pleases, and allow it to taunt us. We appeal to you, as an eminent figure in the democratic movement. We ask you to do for us everything you can in the shortest possible time, and to make your actions known to all official bodies.“
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[4]
A group of political prisoners has appealed to the International Red Cross.
The Soviet Red Cross, they point out, demonstratively provides aid for refugees and political prisoners abroad, but has never given any help to Soviet political prisoners: neither does it know or want to know anything about their situation, about the fact that “the conditions of imprisonment in this camp are specially designed to destroy the prisoners’ health”.
The starvation-level food norms are reinforced by prohibitions and restrictions concerning food parcels. The seriously ill are sometimes deprived of their invalid status and forced to do work they are not fit for. The lack of normal medical services leads to disease and deaths (Mikityuk died in July 1972, Kurkis in August 1973, Sylka in May 1974): a prison regime has been established in the camp hospitals.
Protest hunger-strikes, the only means available to defend one’s rights, are punished by isolation in the camp prison. Following a recent new directive, force-feeding is carried out only when the body’s protein begins to disintegrate.
The appeal describes the use of psychiatry for the suppression of of dissent as the “most terrible and monstrous” of all the means used.
The appeal was signed by:
Anatoly Altman, Nikolai Bondar, Mykola Gorbal, V. Zakharchenko, Anatoly Zdorovy, Ihor Kalynets, Valery Marchenko, Josif Mendelevich, Igor Ogurtsov, Yevhen Prishlyak, Yevhen Sverstyuk, Bagrat Shakhverdyan and L. Yagman.
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[5]
CAMP INVALIDS
According to the law, prisoners who “have a serious illness which precludes further serving of their sentence” may be freed before their sentence expires (under Article 100, for example, of the RSFSR Corrective-Labour Code).
Prisoners call this procedure “invaliding out” or “commissioning off”.
In practice, only those whose remaining days are numbered have, up to now, been “invalided out”. According to some reports, prisoner Kibartas was “commissioned off” only after his death. Solenieks was “invalided out” only after the malignant tumour on his lip had become inoperable.
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In CAMP 35, at this moment, the following prisoners are suffering from illnesses which make them eligible for “invaliding out”:
Mikhail Dyak: 12 years of prison and camps and five years’ exile, has lymphogranulomatosis [3];
Vladimir Dyak, serving ten years in the camps, suffers from a malignant form of hypertension;
Dmytro Basarab, a Twenty-Fiver [4], has common arteriosclerosis, cardiosclerosis, aneurysm of the myocardium since suffering a heart attack in 1972, and ischaemic heart disease;
Konstantin Lushch, who is serving 15 years in prison and camps and five years in exile, suffers from a malignant form of hypertension, haemiplegia on the right side after a brain haemorrhage;
Nikolai Melekh, 15-year sentence in prison and camps, has paresis on the left side after meningoencephalitis;
Albertas Meskinas, 15-year sentence in the camps, has severe mitral-aortal heart disease, a stomach ulcer, stomach haemorrhage and anaemia;
Yevhen Pronyuk, serving seven years in the camps and five years in exile, suffers from open tuberculosis of the lungs.
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[6]
Vladimir Bukovsky in the Camp
CCE 32.12 reported that Vladimir Bukovsky was held in ‘cell-type premises’ (punishment cells) from 20 February (in fact, 21 February) to 9 May. Details about his incarceration in the punishment cells have now become known, together with some of the earlier circumstances.
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Before Bukovsky was transferred from Vladimir Prison to the camp in spring 1973, he was held captive in Lefortovo Prison (Moscow) for two months, where Major Alexandrovsky (CCE 29.8) had some conversations with him.
The Major proposed to Bukovsky that he should write a request for a pardon, adding that his advice was based on the opinion of high authorities. In reply, Bukovsky demanded the release of the people who had been interned in psychiatric hospitals for political reasons. At the end of their conversations, Alexandrovsky noted that the road to a pardon would always be open for Bukovsky, that he would have plenty of time to think it over, and would be helped to do so.
From the very first days of his time in the camp numerous punishments were inflicted upon Bukovsky.
Over a short period of time he received two warnings and two reprimands; he was deprived of access to the camp shop; and also deprived of a visit. The reasons given for some of the punishments were that: he went out of the living quarters wearing slippers, he was wearing a cap which was not of the regulation type, he did not salute a representative of the administration, he did not stand up when the head of his unit entered.
On 4 February Bukovsky was put in the camp prison for ten days, because he had not carried out an order given by First Lieutenant Osin, the manager of the workshop. On 14 February Bukovsky was informed that his punishment had been extended by five days because the shift foreman, prisoner Balashov, had reported that Bukovsky had not been at his place of work on 3 February (a Sunday). During a talk with Bukovsky, Camp Commandant Major Pimenov said that he (Pimenov) had not been in any way responsible for the punishment.
On 19 February Bukovsky was released from the prison, but on 21 February he was put in the cell-type premises for “continuous, wilful breaches of the regime regulations and for exerting a negative influence on those around him” according to a resolution by the Camp’s Commission (VS-389) in Skalnoye.
In March two officials, who did not give their names, visited Bukovsky. They took offence because he did not stand up when they walked in: “I am being fed so poorly here,” Bukovsky observed, “that I simply cannot get up very often.” On the same day he was transferred from the cell-type premises to the prison for seven days. On reading him the order for this, Pimenov again remarked: “You must understand, this has nothing to do with me.”
According to insufficiently verified reports, Bukovsky was there allotted food norm 9b (CCE 33.2).
As Bukovsky lacked the strength necessary to fulfil his work norm (prisoners in the punishment cells have to cut threads on bolts by hand), he was deprived of access to the camp shop during April. In this connection political officer Kitmanov said to him: “That’s the basic law of socialism: he who does not work, neither shall he eat.”
A group of prisoners sent appeals on Bukovsky’s behalf to the USSR Procurator-General. They all received identical replies, through the Perm Regional Procuracy:
“You are asked to inform prisoner (name) that his appeal (dated) has been received and examined by the USSR Procuracy.
“The Regional Procuracy has carried out an investigation, checking-up on the legality of convict Bukovsky’s transfer to cell-type premises:
“it has been established that, for systematic disregard and infringements of the camp regulations, for rudeness, insulting behaviour, non-fulfilment of lawful demands by the administration, and for other breaches of the regulations, he was justifiably put in cell-type premises, and
“that he is able, from the health point of view, to undergo this form of punishment.
“Matsiyevsky,
“Head of Department,
Supervision of Places of Imprisonment”
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[7]
Camp 36
A list of the administration personnel of Camp 36 was given in CCE 30.8.
At the present time the following facts are known:
- Captain Zhuravkov — Camp Commandant (the previous Commandant, Major V. F. Kotov, has become deputy head of the VS-389 complex [5] of Corrective Labour Colonies).
- Major V. Fyodorov — Deputy in charge of regime and operations.//
- Captain Gnedin — Political officer.
- Shardin — Production chief.
- Captain Milenty — Assistant to the Commandant
- Kotova — Doctor.
- Ensign Rotenko — Surveillance service
The camp is designed to hold 250 people. At present there are about 200 in it.
The work in the camp consists of:
— manufacture of electric fire bars — in workshop I (an unhealthy workshop, because of the dust);
— assembling of electric iron panels — in workshop 2;
— pressing of plastic plates — in workshop 3 (unhealthy, as temperature in it is about 60’*C);
— sewing of mittens — in an auxiliary workshop;
— construction work;
— a saw-mill is to be opened soon.
Because of the lack of ventilation in the workshops, the prisoners have to wear respirators while working. Despite the unhealthy conditions they have to work eight hours a day, six days a week. The work-norms are high — only one prisoner, Sado, was able to fulfil the norm on two occasions, through working overtime.
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[8]
Living conditions
Two single-storey barracks, each divided into two sections. There are about 30 double-tier bunks in each section. Each room has three or four windows; the ceiling is three to 3 ½ metres high. The regulations prescribe one locker for each pair of bunks. One pillow, one blanket, three(?) sheets and one towel are allocated for each bunk. During the spring, when the heating has just been turned off, and during the autumn, when the heating has not yet been turned on, the rooms are very cold.
Baths are allowed once a week, to be taken during the first half of the day — the bath-house is badly heated.
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[9]
HUNGER STRIKES
July 1972: A few prisoners went on a six-day hunger strike because of the compulsory shaving of beards (one of the first steps to implement Order No. 020).
November 1972: Several prisoners protested in writing against compulsory attendance at political meetings.
10 December 1972 (Human Rights Day): One-day hunger strike; the prisoners tried to hang out a UN flag.
December 1972: Bondar staged a month-long hunger strike, on the anniversary of his trial.
24 December 1972: Hunger strike by the ‘aeroplane people’ (on the second anniversary of the Leningrad trial, //cce 17.6-1).
15 July 1973: The customary hunger strike by the ‘aeroplane people’ (on the third anniversary of their arrest).
9 February 1974: About 40 people went on hunger strike, protesting against the camp regime. They appealed to various authorities and to the press.
1-15 May: Abankin on hunger strike.
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[10]
A Month-Long Strike (23 June-20 July)
On the afternoon of 22 June, a Saturday, a number of prisoners were lying in the sun in the area near the living quarters. Among them was Stepan Sapelyak.
Though Sapelyak had been in the camp for only a few months, he had already come into conflict with the administration more than once; he had suffered a series of punishments, had been put in the prison, and had managed to provoke an extremely hostile attitude on the part of the administration. On that day the officer on duty as deputy camp commandant was Captain Milenty.
Milenty, together with Ensign Rotenko, was patrolling the zone, and asked the sun-bathing prisoners to get dressed; they obeyed. However, Sapelyak was then taken to the guard-house, where he was asked to write an explanation regarding ‘the infringement of the regulations concerning dress’ He refused to do so. Then Milenty made him stand facing the wall, leaning on it with his hands as for a search, and with the words ‘I’ll show you the law’, Milenty struck Sapelyak a number of blows on the back and sides with his fists. Then the camp commandant, Captain Zhuravkov, appeared at the guard-house and informed Sapelyak that he was being deprived of access to the camp shop for a month because he had ‘infringed the regulations concerning dress’.
Sapelyak said that he had been beaten up, and demanded an immediate medical examination. Soon after, the doctor, Kotova, arrived at the guard-house; she is the wife of the former camp commandant. A prisoner who happened to be in the guardhouse, Safronov, noticed red marks on Sapelyak’s body and pointed these out to Kotova, but she alleged that Sapelyak had had these from birth. She said she could find no marks on him made by blows. Sapelyak was then allowed to leave the guard-house for the zone; he was threatened that if he told anyone about a beating, then “sparks would really fly” for him.
Sapelyak told the other prisoners what had happened. Sometime later, a guard detail arrived and tried to take him back to the guard-house, but the other prisoners would not let them take him. The following day they went on strike, demanding an investigation. About 45 people took part in the strike.
Major Kotov announced that he would head an investigation.
During the first three days, the administration limited itself to threats of prosecution under Article 77-1 (RSFSR Criminal Code) and to symbolic punishments, reprimands and warnings.
The investigation was completed by the beginning of the third day of the strike. The evidence of prisoner Zukauskas, a doctor, who had also examined Sapelyak and had found marks on his body caused by a hand, was not taken into consideration.
On the evening of the 25 June Major Kotov announced to the assembled prisoners that Sapelyak was a slanderer and would be punished for his slander. On the same evening Sverstyuk, Zdorovy and Grilius were put in the prison or refusing to work. After this a number of prisoners ended their strike.
Thirty-two people continued to strike: Sapelyak, Oleg Frolov, Sverstyuk, Grilius, Pokrovsky, Josif Mendelevich, Gulil, Dymshits, Anatoly Zdorovy, Zalmanson, Grinkov, Mikhail Makarenko, Sinkov, Zukauskas, Berniichuk, Mirauskas, Lev Lukyanenko, Silinskas, Kalinichenko, Simas Kudirka, Kifyak, Oleg Vorobyov, Grigoryev, Georgy Davydov, Gerchak, Alexei Safronov, Chernoglaz, Astra, Puce, Saarte, Lapp and Vitold Abankin.
On the next day Pokrovsky was put in the punishment cells for five months, Davydov for four months, and Kudirka for two months. Earlier Abankin, too, had been put in. Several prisoners were put in the prison. By the evening of that day the prison cells were full up, Other prisoners were deprived of visits and parcels, and of access to the camp shop.
On 3 July the following prisoners were transferred to Vladimir Prison for taking part in the strike; Kudirka (for three years). Lukyanenko (to the end of his sentence, i.e., 18 months), and Chernoglaz (for 11 months).
On 5 July the following prisoners were transferred from the prison to the punishment cells; Makarenko, Zdorovy and Grilius (for two months) and Silinskas (for four months).
On 13 July O. Frolov and Davydov were transferred to the hospital because of a deterioration in their health.
On 15-16 July the prisoners still in the zone ended their strike. Those imprisoned in the punishment cells continued to strike.
The health of Makarenko, Grilius, Zdorovy and Silinskas deteriorated sharply in the course of just over a month, while they were being given prison food norms. They were told that, due to camp regulations, it was not possible for them to be given the medical treatment required.
The strike ended soon after 20 July.
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[11]
On 19 July prisoner Mikhail Makarenko was deprived of access to the camp shop for infringing the regulations on dress. For the same reason he was, on 23 July, deprived of his next visit; on 25 July, again for the same offence, he was put in the prison for 14 days.
It would seem that the real reason for these punishments was that Makarenko himself, as well as people interested in his fate, had been constantly writing protests about the systematic confiscation or disappearance of letters addressed to him or written by him. These protests had been addressed to the MVD. On 8 August Makarenko was released from the prison. On 9 August he was transferred to camp 3 in the Mordovian complex. In September Makarenko was transferred to Vladimir Prison by court order, for violating ‘the regulations’. ‘
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[12]
On 9 August Abankin, Astra, Mirauskas, Puce, Safronov and Sinkov renewed the strike; they demanded that their friends held in the punishment cells be hospitalized and taken off prison food norms. In answer to this, they were themselves put in the prison.
In the middle of August Abankin and Safronov were transferred to Vladimir Prison, each for three years.
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[13]
The prisoners in the punishment cells announced that, because of the tyranny continuously practised by the administration, they would not work again in this camp.
On 25 August a hunger strike in support of the strikers was begun in the zone. This hunger strike lasted, it seems, until 5 September.
On 4-5 September, the customary hunger strike on the anniversary of the Decree of 5 September 1918 took place. It began at eight o’clock on the evening of 4 September. About 40 people took part. They lit a candle on a specially-made mound, resembling a grave; speeches were made, and prayers said in memory of the dead. The hunger-strikers tried to remain silent throughout the following day. The hunger strike ended at eight o’clock on the evening of 5 September.
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NOTES
- For a document describing Ogurtsov’s hospitalization, and its background, see CHR 1974 (No. 10).
↩︎ - See Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago (1974), Volume 1, Chapter ///.
↩︎ - CCE 35.7, reported that in January 1975 Mikhail Dyak (aged 40) was terminally ill and yet was refused release by a court, as he had not ‘reformed’. (See on him also CCE 11.3, CCE 17.7 and 1976 obituary CCE 42.13.)
↩︎ - Dmytro Basarab was omitted, presumably in error, from the list of Camp 35 prisoners in this issue CCE 33.6-2.
↩︎ - In other words, Kotov was demoted to deputy of the Perm complex (VS 389).
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