American Prisoners at Russia’s ‘Fashion Colony’ Are Producing Clothes
- Russia’s IK-17 penal colony is known as a “Fashion Colony” in aspect for its brightly-painted exterior.
- American prisoners held there say they encounter toxic function circumstances and a lack of health care awareness.
- It is the probable spot for detained reporter Evan Gershkovich, the WSJ reports.
American prisoners in Russia’s IK-17 penal colony commit their days assembling clothes in poisonous situations and are regularly exposed to fungus and airborne fabric particles, a Wall Avenue Journal investigation unveiled.
The prison is the probably spot for detained reporter Evan Gershkovich if he is convicted of espionage prices, the outlet reports.
IK-17 — known as “Trend Colony” for its brightly-painted exterior intended to idiot onlookers — is about 300 miles east of Moscow, in the Mordovia region of Russia, in accordance to the Wall Road Journal.
If Gershkovich have been to be detained at the manner colony, he would sign up for three recognised American prisoners previously there: Jimmy Wilgus, Thomas Stwalley, and, most not too long ago, Paul Whelan, an ex-maritime detained in 2018, now serving a 16-year sentence on espionage prices that he denies.
The United States has classified both Gershkovich and Whelan as wrongfully detained, in accordance to the Wall Road Journal.
Prisoners at IK-17 have to assemble apparel for the Russian business Technoavia, employing supplies that can go away fungus on their fingers. The investigation located that they also get the job done without air filtration, forcing them to breathe in material particles.
A Technoavia spokesperson explained to the Wall Avenue Journal that labor circumstances are carefully monitored by the state and that generation procedures are suspended if criteria are not met.
Inmates also have no entry to physicians or dental care, leaving inmates devoid of access to necessary drugs, Wilgus told the outlet. Equally, Whelan’s brother, David, told the Wall Road Journal that dental troubles are solved by extractions only.
Prisoners and human rights activists also spoke to the outlet about the solitary confinement problems. Wilgus explained to the Wall Avenue Journal he after put in 100 days in confinement, reporting that guards safe beds to the wall for extended intervals and pressure prisoners to sit on the floor or on a bench for 16 hours just about every working day.
As Gershkovich awaits demo, the U.S. Residence of Reps voted unanimously on June 13 to situation a resolution demanding the journalist’s speedy release. Virtually 40 U.S. Senators also wrote a letter condemning his detainment.
