Gulags

Gulags were forced labor camps in the Soviet Union established under Stalin, primarily used from the 1930s to the 1950s. They imprisoned a wide range of people, including political opponents, intellectuals, and ordinary criminals. Prisoners were subjected to harsh conditions, including forced labor, inadequate food, and brutal treatment. The purpose was to punish, suppress dissent, and enforce state policies. Gulags became symbols of political repression and human rights abuses, with millions enduring years of detention under often inhumane circumstances.