Perm-36 the horrendous Gulag

Previous page - Belaya Gora Monastery

 

Perm-36 is now a museum

We started off the day well having had a much better night's sleep than we had on the trains of late. Anna's friend Una was coming with us to Perm 36. She arrived at the flat at 9:15 a.m. and Dennis, our driver, wasn't too far behind her.

Perm-36 was a Soviet political repression camp, otherwise known as a Gulag. It is located in Kutchino, a small village located about 100 kilometres from Perm in a north-easterly direction. Again we had a lovely drive through green picturesque countryside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The complex was initially a timber construction camp but in 1972 the government used it as a prison for political prisoners. Here they housed so-called "enemies of the state" such as those who dared to advocate human rights and those who opposed communism. Political prisoners were kept there until its closure in 1987. One couldn't imagine a worse place to be incarcerated. It was horrendous. There were five escape barriers - one of which was the area patrolled by guard dogs and featured below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An English speaking guide

Anna had organised for an English speaking guide to lead our little group around the place which is now preserved as a museum. The guide was excellent, being very knowledgeable and very easy to understand.

It was hard to fight back tears as we learned of the atrocities that took place in this gulag. Apparently this particular gulag had the strictest regime of all the gulags in Russia. It is the only one still standing and is preserved so they we must all never forget the terrible things that happened there. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it as I write this up on our web site. We were asked to leave comments in a book and also asked to tell everyone we knew about this horrendous place. The people at the museum want all the world to know about it so nothing like this happens again. Unfortunately it still does though, doesn't it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many exhibits such as clothing and implements and a film to watch at the end too. It was a very interesting tour indeed.

On the way back to Perm we stopped at a roadside café to eat some sandwiches Anna had brought with us and some other food we bought over the counter. There were some outdoor toilets at the café but they really were so bad I just couldn't use them. This is not uncommon in Russia.

 

Next page - Leaving Perm on the bus

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