04 June 2008, 12:30
Presentation of the book on use of prisoners' labour in USSR held in Rostov-on-Don
The city of Rostov-on-Don was the venue the present the book named "Prisoners at Communism Construction Sites. GULAG and Power Engineering Sites. Collection of Documents and Photos".
The publication was prepared under the order of Russian Joint-Stock Company "United Energy Systems of Russia" on the basis of the documents submitted by the State Archive of the Russian Federation, Russian State Archive of Economy and the Society "Memorial".
According to Elena Demakova, adviser of Director General of the "TGK-8 South Generating Company", the documents and photos collected in the book evidence the huge price paid for construction of power engineering objects. According to Vladimir Simonov, deputy manager of the Branch "Rostov Generation" of the OJSC "TGK-8 SGC", "the terrible statistics shows that, for example, every megawatt of the Volga HPP cost the life of 40 persons."
In the opinion of Nikolai Mininkov, Doctor of History and Professors of the South Federal University, the book is especially topical today, when again we have political prisoners and political emigrants, when attempts are made rehabilitate the forms and methods of economic activities, where the state plays a paramount role.
The book "Prisoners at Communism Construction Sites" will be available later this June. In the Rostov Region, 200 copies will go to libraries.
Author: Elena Olenina, CK correspondent
