Internees Praying outside the Gornyi Zerentui Prison, 1891. Creator: Aleksei Kuznetsov

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Internees Praying outside the Gornyi Zerentui Prison, 1891. Creator: Aleksei Kuznetsov

Internees Praying outside the Gornyi Zerentui Prison, 1891. One of 74 views taken in July 1891 and contained in the albumTipy i vidy Nerchinskoi katorgi (Views and inhabitants of Nerchinsk hard labor camps). The Nerchinskkatorgawas part of the katorga (forced labor) system of imperial Russia, located in the province of Transbaikalia (present-day Zabaykal'skiy Kray), near the Russian border with China. The katorga was administered by the Ministry of Interior and included prisons at Akatuy, Kara, Aleksandrovsk, Nerchinskii Zavod, and Zerentuy, all of which are depicted in the album. National Library of Russia

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Media ID 35127543

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Aleksei Kirillovich Kuznetsov Aleksei Kuznetsov Convict Convicts Exile Exiled Forced Labour Hard Labour In Prayer Interned Internee Katorga Kuznetsov Aleksei Labour Camp Nerchinsk Transbaikal Territory Russia Penal Servitude Penitentiary Prayer Praying Prison Prison Camp Prisoner Prisoners Punishing Punishment Siberia Siberian Transbaikal Russia Worship Worshipping Zabaykalsky Krai Russia Internees Meeting Of Frontiers

EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph, titled "Internees Praying outside the Gornyi Zerentui Prison," was captured by Russian photographer Aleksei Kuznetsov in July 1891. The image is part of a larger album, "Tipy i vidy Nerchinskoi katorgi" (Views and inhabitants of Nerchinsk hard labor camps), which documents the daily life and conditions of the prisoners in the Nerchinsk katorga, a system of forced labor camps located in Transbaikalia, Russia. The photograph depicts a group of internees, both male and female, gathered outside the imposing stone walls of the Gornyi Zerentui Prison. They stand in a solemn line, heads bowed, as if in prayer. The scene is one of quiet contemplation, a brief moment of respite from the harsh realities of their confinement. The prisoners' clothing is worn and tattered, a testament to their hardships. The Nerchinsk katorga was part of the katorga system, administered by the Ministry of Interior, which included prisons at Akatuy, Kara, Aleksandrovsk, Nerchinskii Zavod, and Zerentuy. The camps were located near the Russian border with China and were used to punish political dissidents, criminals, and exiles. This powerful image offers a glimpse into the lives of the prisoners, revealing their humanity and resilience in the face of adversity. It is a poignant reminder of the meeting of frontiers - the physical and metaphorical boundaries that define and shape our world - and the enduring power of faith and community in times of hardship.

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