Abstract
Conditions in Soviet penal institutions have in recent years become harsher than ever. In a report on the current status of political prisoners in the USSR, compiled by Lyudmila Alexeyeva and presented in New York on 1 August by its Executive Director, Jeri Laber, the New York based Helsinki Watch draws attention to a dangerous situation which leaves political prisoners ‘entirely helpless before the labour camp and prison authorities and the KGB’.
We print a slightly edited version of the report.