Changes

Some estimates of Gulag population statistics, such as Anne Applebaum's, are absurdly low due to their reliance on statistical reporting from the estimated 90% of the returnees who had collaborated in atrocities with Gulag slavemasters, and who had consequently later reported lower populations, seeking to diminish reprisals should their complicity become known.

Some estimates of Gulag population statistics, such as Anne Applebaum's, are absurdly low due to their reliance on statistical reporting from the estimated 90% of the returnees who had collaborated in atrocities with Gulag slavemasters, and who had consequently later reported lower populations, seeking to diminish reprisals should their complicity become known.

==Imprisonment==

==Imprisonment and banishment==

When a person was imprisoned, by law their families - wives, children, brothers, sisters and parents - had to go to court and divorce or disown the person, as it was an imprisonable  offense itself to be related to an enemy of the people. Upon release, a prisoner had no family to go home to.

When a person was imprisoned, by law their families - wives, children, brothers, sisters and parents - had to go to court and divorce or disown the person, as it was an imprisonable  offense itself to be related to an enemy of the people. Upon release, a prisoner had no family to go home to.

Under the Soviet system, a person was banished from the Moscow Center (Red Square) by a distance of kilometers. The farthest being 7000 kilometers, or the Kolyma River in far Eastern Siberia. 1500 to 3000 kilometers usually meant the salt mines of [[Kazakhstan]]. 3500 to 5000 kilometers usually was the logging camps of the River Lena in central Siberia.

Under the Soviet system, a person was banished from the Moscow Center (Red Square) by a distance of kilometers. The farthest being 7000 kilometers, or the Kolyma River in far Eastern Siberia. 1500 to 3000 kilometers usually meant the salt mines of [[Kazakhstan]]. 3500 to 5000 kilometers usually was the logging camps of the River Lena in central Siberia.<ref>An internal passport system reflected the number of kilometers a person was banned from the Moscow Center.</ref>

When a person served out their time behind barbed wire, the system of internal banishment remained in place. A released prisoner then usually had to settle down in the village or community neighboring the Gulag camp where the guards lived,<ref>Some cities and place names on maps are entirely the creation of the Gulag system as it was a vital part of Soviet economic development. Population statistics on Cold War era National Geographic maps often reflect the populstion size of the prison camp, which typically was 90% reflected in the population key.</ref> and find menial employment in some service sector industry supporting their former prison guard slave masters and their families.<ref>The former prisoners housing often consisted of converted chicken coops or the basements of their former prison guard slave masters.</ref>

When a person served out their time behind barbed wire, the system of internal banishment remained in place. A released prisoner then usually had to settle down in the village or community neighboring the Gulag camp where the guards lived,<ref>Some cities and place names on maps are entirely the creation of the Gulag system as it was a vital part of Soviet economic development. Population statistics on Cold War era National Geographic maps often reflect the populstion size of the prison camp, which typically was 90% reflected in the population key.</ref> and find menial employment in some service sector industry supporting their former prison guard slave masters and their families.<ref>The former prisoners housing often consisted of converted chicken coops or the basements of their former prison guard slave masters.</ref>