Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said on August 10 that more than 26,000 people sentenced to so-called "penal labor" instead of being sent to prisons had been used in various industry fields such as construction, engineering, agriculture, housing, and communal services since January 1. Last year that number was 9,300. "Penal labor" is a lenient punishment for less serious crimes, meaning that persons handed such a sentence must reside and work at FSIN-designated places with a court-determined percentage of their salaries being deducted by the state. Russia has dramatically increased this type of punishment since 2020. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Russia Dramatically Increases Number Of 'Penal Labor' Sentences
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