OVERCROWDED PRISONS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 7

OVERCROWDED PRISONS

SOVIET TAKES RELIEF MEASURES.

(DNITEI) PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPIRIGHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZBAIAND CABLB ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 24th August. The "Morning Post's" Russjan correspondent says the , Soviet prisons are so overcrowded' that weeding out has become necessary. There are 72,685 prisoners in Central Russia, of whom twothirds are 'political. The Government intends to divide the latter into three groups.: The first, consisting of unrepentant enemies, of the Soviet Govern-; ment and the Communist Party serviug sentences over eight years, will be transferred to prisons in Siberia. The second group, serving five to eight years, will be exiled to outlying places in Northern Russia, where they will remain under police. observation. The third group, serving shorter terms, will be deported to their usual places of residence without the right to leave their homes until the sentences expire.