RIOTS IN SOVIET PRISON CAMP.

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27638, 20 April 1955, Page 14

RIOTS IN SOVIET PRISON CAMP.

Charge By Japanese Repatriates “200 PRISONERS KILLED”

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) TOKYO, April 18. A group of 88 Japanese repatriates, who returned from 10 years of captivity in Soviet Russia today, reported that hundreds of prisoners were killed in riots in Soviet prison camps during 1953 and 1954. . . The repatriates said that about 200 prisoners were killed and another 180 injured in a strike at the Karaganda prison between May 15 and June 27 last year. The Soviet authorities used tanks and machine-guns to quell the rioters. , i The incident started when male and female prisoners demanded that tney be allowed to live together. Tanks and machine-guns were used when the prisoners refused to obey the orders issued by the authorities. The repatriates said that 150 prisoners accused of starting disturbances in various prisons were sent to a prison at Nalynskaya in the spring of 1953. They assumed the leadership of 150,000 other prisoners there ana issued a demand for improved living and working conditions. . . The prison authorities refused their demands and began executing the prisoners believed responsible for tne disturbance. . A According to the repatriates one execution took place every three days. The prisoners banded together and defied the authorities and officials were sent from Moscow. The repatriates said that the Moscow officials met the prisoners* demands. This incident was followed by .the mass replacement of all prisoners. Those believed to be the ringleaders were taken away in trucks. This was followed by further riots within the prison which were subdued by machine-gun fire.