Issue # 21-2010. Content

The new issue of Nevolya magazine focuses on censorship problems and abuses in the area of psychiatry. The series of articles featuring under the heading “Censorship” includes a story on GosNarkoKontrol [State Drug Control Agency]; another one on freedom-of-expression restrictions in the Internet; and a report on yet another crackdown on the organizers of an art exhibition. The stories about psychiatric abuses are collected under the heading “Behind the Wall”.

We would recommend paying your attention to Sergey Stepanov’s absorbing historical chronicles in the “History” section and to Alexander Mulenko and Sergey Laryagin’s stories under the heading “Russia: A Nationwide Pre-Trial Facility”.

The new issue also features official statistical reports by the Penitentiary Department, traditional chronicles of the Foundation in Defense of Prisoners’ Rights about incidents within the penitentiary system, and Alexei Mokrousov’s review of Xavier Emmanuelli’s book “OUT:

L’exclusion peut-elleêtre vaincue?”.

The first section, “Social Punishment”, carries official penitentiary statistics as per July 1, 2010, A. Mokrousov’s review of X. Emmanuelli’s book and chronicles by the Prisoner Rights Defense Foundation.

The section “Behind the Wall” opens with Tatiana Malchikova’s article “An Ordinary Death” describing the tragic life story of an orphan and the evil practice of assigning inmates of children’s orphanages to psychiatric clinics. Ivan Markelov’s story “Children’s Right to Mental Health” describes the work of school psychologists. The article “The White Horse Rider” by Roman Chorny raises the issue of unjustified diagnosing of mental illnesses in children. The section ends with the story “Holidays” by Alexander Avgust, himself a former inmate of a psychiatric clinic having in-depth knowledge of everyday practices and morals in that kind of health institutions.

The section “Russia: A Nationwide Pre-Trial Facility” features two brilliant short stories – “The Little Ring” by Alexander Mulenko and “Law and Chance” by Sergey Laryagin.

The “History” section features Sergei Stepanov’s historical chronicles “Slaves in Nizhny Novgorod and Elsewhere” describing prison habits and ways in old-time Russia.

The “Censorship” section opens with Alec Epstein and Oleg Vassilyev’s article “GosNarkoKontrol over Culture” highlighting the problem of excessive censorship powers delegated to the Drug Control Agency. It also features Alexander Podrabinek’s story “Freedom of Expression: An Eternal Enemy of Power” reprinted from Yezhednevny Zhurnal. The author points to increasingly strong pressure exerted on freedom-loving web bloggers. Vera Vassilyeva’s article “Taganka Justice System vs. Creative Freedom” describes the trial over Andrei Yerofeyev and Yuri Samodurov, the organizers of the exhibition “Forbidden Art 2006”. The same topic is discussed by Alexei Mokrousov in his essay “Kafka and Facts of Life”.

In conclusion, the third edition of Rossiyski Tyuremny Zhurnal [Russian Prison Journal] is announced.

Nevolia. Issue # 21-2010. Print version (PDF, Russian)