The Great Soviet Art of Intimidation

I’ll begin with a curious fact that is well known to specialists but, despite its great significance, has never appeared in the Western press.

In July 1972, shortly after Richard Nixon’s visit to Moscow and the beginning of what is called detente, more than three hundred political prisoners from Mordvinian camps were loaded into tightly sealed, sun-scorched special train cars and transported to two new camps in the Urals—Number 35 and Number 36. One man died en route, and several were taken out unconscious.

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Dmitry Mikheyev

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I’ll begin with a curious fact that is well known to specialists but, despite its great significance, has never appeared in the Western press.

In July 1972, shortly after Richard Nixon’s visit to Moscow and the beginning of what is called detente, more than three hundred political prisoners from Mordvinian camps were loaded into tightly sealed, sun-scorched special train cars and transported to two new camps in the Urals—Number 35 and Number 36. One man died en route, and several were taken out unconscious.