Russia expands forced-labor prison centers as inmate numbers fall

According to the head of the Federal Penitentiary Service, Arkadij Gostev, the agency has created about four hundred forced-labor centers that combine housing and employment for inmates. Since the end of 2021, the total number of people in prisons and detention facilities has dropped markedly, a trend Gostev attributes partly to the recruitment of prisoners into the military. Under Russian law, forced labor is not classified as a criminal sentence, but those sentenced to it must remain in FSIN facilities, obey their regulations and cannot leave without permission.

They receive a wage but must cover most living costs themselves, while a portion of their earnings is deducted by the state. The system benefits companies because workers cannot quit, and the state offers tax breaks to firms that provide space for these centers. Plans are underway to replicate the model near industrial sites, with optional amenities such as sports fields and parks.