[Editor’s note: We continue our publication of a series of articles from our correspondent Grigory Pasko – his prison sketches. In our opinion, the things Grigory is writing about from his own experience in the GULag are just as applicable to today’s Russia. See part 1 and part 2 of this series.] Life Behind Bars: Captive of the Apes By Grigory Pasko, journalist Author’s note: Today, the Russian power, the KGB system, bluntly and doggedly, in full view of the entire world, is physically destroying Vasily Alexanyan, former lawyer and defender of M. Khodorkovsky, former executive vice-president of OAO NK «YUKOS», simply because this man chose not to bear false witness against another man, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. He refused to commit perjury. In actuality, there are many like him in Russian prisons. Because prison in Russia is an instrument for destroying the unwanted. There is no shortage of cruelty when a system of repressive power seeks to protect itself.

The text around Stalin reads “ENVOY TO RUSSIA FROM SATAN AND THE DEVIL!!!”. Stalin’s axe handle says “CPSU” and the blade says “NKVD”. He is standing on the “LENIN” mausoleum. (Photo courtesy of TATTOOirovka.com)