PKT “ODINOCHKA” HIGH SECURITY SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CELL

PKT literally means “a cell-like room”, and “odinochka” – solitary (confinement). This was a form of additional punishment, introduced at the end of the 1950s against prisoners in special regime labour camps. People could be held in PKT alone for up to one year. They worked in the cell, had a 30 minute walk in the courtyard. Food rations were reduced, parcels and visits prohibited, and they were allowed to write one letter in two months. They were allowed to spend 2 roubles a month on extra food items (“laryok”).