MVD special camps of the Gulag (Russian: Особые лагеря МВД, особлаги, osobye lagerya, osoblags) was a system of special labor camps established addressing the February 21, 1948 decree 416—159сс of the USSR Council of Ministers of February 28 decree 00219 of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs[1] exclusively for a "special contingent" of political prisoners, convicted according to the more severe sub-articles of Article 58 (Enemies of people): treason, espionage, terrorism, etc., for various real political opponents, such as Trotskyists, "nationalists" (eg. Ukrainian nationalism), white émigrés, as well as for fabricated ones.
History
editInitially, in February 1948, five osoblags were established, nameless, numbered from 1 to 5.[1] Later, they were given codenames, accordingly, Mineralny Минеральный (Minlag), Gorny Горный (Gorlag), Dubravny Дубравный (Dubravlag), Stepnoy Степной (Steplag) and Beregovoy Береговой (Berlag). Russian political prisoner and writer Georgy Demidov notices that this naming was arbitrary, unlike regular Gulag camps, which were commonly named after geographical features or major occupation.[2]
Later the following osoblags were created: Rechnoy Речной (Rechlag, August 1948), Ozyorny Озерный (Ozyorlag/Ozerlag, December 1948, Песчаный (Peschanlag), Луговой (Luglag), Камышовый (Kamyshlag), Дальний (Dallag, Ekibastuz, distinguish from Dallag, Far East), and Водораздельный (Vodorazdellag).
In 1954, after the death of Stalin, most of them were reorganized into regular corrective labor camps.[3]
MVD special camps were places of the three largest Gulag uprisings: Norilsk uprising, Vorkuta uprising, and Kengir uprising.
See also
edit- Special camp (disambiguation), for other types of Soviet special camps
References
edit- ^ a b Приказ МВД СССР № 00219 «Об организации особых лагерей МВД»
- ^ Georgy Demidov, "Без бирки" ("Without Tag"") in: "Чудная планета" ("Fancy Planet"), Moscow, Возвращение, 2008, ISBN 978-5-7157-0219-7, p. 132.
- ^ Reference book Система исправительно-трудовых лагерей в СССР ("The System of Corrective Labor Camps in the USSR")