The Intelligence from The Economist The Intelligence: Life inside a Russian prison
Mar 29, 2024
Guest Arkady Ostrovsky, The Economist's Russia and Eastern Europe editor, uncovers the brutal realities inside Russian prisons, sharing harrowing tales of political prisoners like Alexei Navalny. Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Global Energy and Climate Innovation Editor, addresses the urgent need for policies to combat oil dependency amid rising temperatures. Anne Rowe, obituaries editor, honors Amnon Weinstein and his 'Violins of Hope,' instruments restored from the Holocaust, exploring how music can keep the memories of the past alive.
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Navalny's Fate
- Alexei Navalny died in a penal colony, effectively murdered on February 16th.
- Arkady Ostrovsky began investigating Russian penal colonies before this tragic news.
Varied Prison Conditions
- Russian prison conditions vary significantly, from tolerable with email access to horrific solitary confinement.
- Torture and humiliation are common, aiming to break people's will.
Kara-Murza's Story
- Arkady Ostrovsky corresponded with Vladimir Kara-Murza, a political prisoner serving 25 years.
- Kara-Murza, like Navalny, was poisoned twice and chose to return to Russia to speak against the war.