Introduction: There is one prison colony for women prisoners in Turkmenistan, situated in Dashgouz in the north of the country.

Its code is DZK-8. The letters of airamgul !nnaye"a #not her real name$ date from the two years leading up to %&&'. (hronic o"ercrowding was a ma)or pro*lem at the prison at that time, so much so that prisoners pinned great hopes on an amnesty which the +resident promised for ,cto*er %&&', on the traditional -.orgi"eness /ight01 -2adyr 2id)e0. Information leaked from the prison administration that DKZ-8 would *ecome a military garrison in %&&3 and its inmates would *e mo"ed to the remand prison in Ted)en. !s Ted)en prison was far smaller, this also raised e4pectations a*out an amnesty. In fact, only 8&&& women were amnestied 5 fewer than anticipated. !ccording to local human rights monitors in Dashgouz, in %&&' there were o"er 67,&&& women in the prison. ecause there were no *eds for them, some prisoners slept outside with no shelter, or alternati"ely in the aisles *etween *eds in the *arracks. ,thers *ri*ed guards to let them sleep in the mortuary - and this is not a )oke. ecause of the o"ercrowding, eyewitnesses said that "isiting time *ecame a pu*lic spectacle for the town. !round 6' families arri"ed each day, waiting for hours and sometimes days for their turn. The territory around the prison colony looked like a tra"ellers8 settlement1 the numerous "isitors arri"ing each day set up a camp in the middle of the road in the dust and mist. 9ome sat on their personal *elongings, others on the ground. They were constantly mo"ed out of sight of the central entrance used *y the prison administration. +ost-9o"iet states keep a system of periodic :family "isits8, that allow prisoners to stay o"er night with their closest relati"es or spouses. In Dashgouz there were only ' rooms for family "isits1 two of them ; s< metres large, and the others only %.' s< metres. !t the height of the o"ercrowding, families were accommodated in the kitchen, store rooms and in a small corridor leading to the prison toilet. They had to sleep on the floor. 9ometimes, to the indignation of e"eryone concerned, they were put two-families- to-aroom for an o"ernight "isit. =isiting times were increasingly cut short to cope with the num*ers1 monthly one-hour "isits were cut to %& minutes, and two-monthly o"ernight "isits, were interrupted at 8.;&am, regardless of when the relati"es had actually *een allowed in to the prison. There were other changes in %&&', which suggested that reports of "iolence and *ri*ery in the prison had reached the attention of the central authorities. In >une that year male prison staff were replaced *y women, se"eral were fired, and two were punished for ha"ing se4 with )u"enile inmates. Though male conscripts still acted as escorts and guards, prison warders weree now female. !lthough *ri*ery largely stopped during the staff turno"er, it resumed afterwards. DKZ-8 is home to si4 women who are held in top security. .i"e were con"icted for their part in an alleged assassination attempt against +resident /iyazo" in /o"em*er %&&%, and the si4th is /urtach =elmamedo"a, a relati"e of the con"icted former intelligence chief, ?ukhammed /azaro". They ha"e no "isits, are not allowed to send or recei"e letters, and cannot ha"e parcels. They are kept in strict isolation from other inmates, *ehind *ar*ed wire fencing and under continual escort, e"en in the canteen and *ath

house. ,n the e"e of a "isit from a @/ delegation, their *ar*ed wire fence was dismantled. It was put up round the cell *lock again as soon as the delegation had left. The women are allowed 6' minutes8 e4ercise daily within this %-metre *ar*ed wire fencing. Their work is to sort wool. .ellow prisoners consider this the dirtiest of )o*s, *ecause fine dust penetrates the lungs during the cleaning, and large <uantities of de*ris are left *ehind after each day8s work. TESTIMONY OF BAYRAMGUL ANNAYEVA (not her real name) I decided to rite an acco!nt o" m# time in $%&'( )eca!*e a"ter a #ear there+ I a* a"raid I o!ld die, I *m!--led o!t letter* and mo*t o" them+ l!c.il#+ reached the /eo/le the# ere addre**ed to, 0hen I came o!t o" /ri*on it too. time to collect them, Some I co!ld not "ind+ )eca!*e the /eo/le ho recei1ed them had )!rnt them, Thi* a* not *!r/ri*in-2 the# o!ld ha1e meant *erio!* tro!)le i" the# had )een di*co1ered, Sendin- them a)road a* al*o a /ro)lem2 #o! cannot tr!*t e1er#)od#, A ord a)o!t m#*el", I ill call m#*el" Bairam-!l Anna#e1a, Thi* i* the onl# in1ention in m# acco!nt+ )!t I m!*t /rotect m#*el", I -rad!ated "rom the In*tit!te o" R!**ian Lan-!a-e and Literat!re and am a teacher )# /ro"e**ion, I ta!-ht in *chool "or man# #ear*+ )!t a"ter T!r.meni*tan declared inde/endence in 3445+ m# *.ill* ere red!ndant, I had to )ecome a mar.et trader+ im/ortin- -ood* "rom a)road 6 I had to *!r1i1e *omeho , I ent to Iran t ice and I )e-an ma.in- a /ro"it, Once I )!m/ed into an old collea-!e+ A)adan+ hile e ere aitin- at c!*tom,, 0e had *t!died and or.ed to-ether+ and I remem)ered her a* -ood'nat!red and hone*t, She no had *ome commercial e7/erience too and )eca!*e I tr!*ted her+ e ent to Iran to-ether to /ic. !/ o!r -ood*, Be"ore o!r de/art!re *he )orro ed *ome dollar* "rom m# )rother, UN$ER ARREST I *a m# h!*)and o"" to hi* mother8* in the co!ntr#+ then A)adan /honed and in1ited me ro!nd "or tea, 0hen I ran- her )ell a *tran-e man came to the door, There ere "o!r other he"t# men in the room and A)adan a* in tear*, 0e ere ta.en a a# )# the "i1e men in *ilence+ and /!t in t o dar.ened car*, None o" the men introd!ced them*el1e*+ )!t )# their )rie" e7chan-e* ith each other I reali*ed the# ere *ec!rit# o""icer*, The car* *lo ed do n near the Interior Mini*tr# and t!rned le"t, I had /a**ed the )!ildin- man# time* on m# a# to the mar.et, The -ate* clo*ed )ehind !*, 0hen e -ot o!t o" the car e ere in an enclo*ed #ard+ rather li.e a ell, 0e ere ta.en in*ide and do n a lon- )ri-htl#'lit corridor, I a* /!t in one o""ice and A)adan in another, No one ore !ni"orm e7ce/t the *oldier* on -!ard2 e1er#one a* in ci1ilian clothe*, That8* hen I "elt I a* a criminal, The -!ard o//o*ite me a* a )i- man, 9e *at at the com/!ter /la#in- Tetri*, I co!ld not *ee the *creen )!t I co!ld hear the *o!nd* o" the c!)e* "allin- do n, I a* *o ten*e I remem)er the *o!nd* 1er# di*tinctl#, A man8* *cream came thro!-h a clo*ed door, S!ddenl# o!r door "le o/en and one o" the "i1e men )!r*t in+ -ra))ed me itho!t a ord and literall# dra--ed me ne7t door, I am :8;<< and ei-h a)o!t nine *tone, I a* li.e a doll in hi* -ra*/, 9e thre me a)o!t nine "eet thro!-h the o/en door and I "ell )# the all, I loo.ed aro!nd, I *a a man l#in- on the "loor+ "ace do n+ *toc. *till, 9i* hand* ere handc!""ed )ehind hi* )ac.+ hi* "eet ere )are and hi* !nder/ant* and tro!*er* ere do n )# hi* .nee*, A /olice tr!ncheon and t o /la*tic )ottle* "illed ith ater ere l#in- in )lood ne7t to him, The Mini*tr# o" National Sec!rit#+ In1e*ti-ator# Unit+ anted to teach me a le**on,

INTERROGATION I *tared, A oman a* *ittin- in the de/th o" the room+ *l!m/ed on her *ide+ her hand* handc!""ed )ehind the chair+ her )od# *tri//ed to the ai*t, 9er hair a* a me** and the lar-e )r!i*e* !nder her e#e* ere )leedin-, It a* A)adan, I a* /!*hed to ard* her *o hard that I nearl# "ell+ ne7t to the chair ith her torn * eater on it, 9er tort!rer *tood )ehind her ith a tr!ncheon in hi* hand+ a* tho!-h *ho in- o"" hi* handi or., 9e t!rned to an old'"a*hioned ca)inet )ehind A)adan8* )ac.+ hich o/ened to re1eal a )ro n machine ith ire*, There ere thin-* li.e clothe*'/e-* at the end o" the ire*+ e7ce/t the# ere lar-er and made o" metal, The )!tcher cli//ed one )ehind her ear+ made me dre** her in the )ra l#in- near)# on the "loor+ then *li//ed the *econd clothe* /e- in*ide it+ -rinnin- a* he chec.ed to *ee i" it had made )od# contact, There a* a *econd th!- o//o*ite A)adan ith a et to el in hi* hand, A)adan )e-an *ha.in- hen the c!rrent a* t!rned on and cra*hed to the "loor ith the chair, I leant to ard* her and a* th ac.ed in the "ace, I *a *tar*, It a* the man ith the to el, I -ot the *ame treatment a* A)adan, I .e/t "allin- to the "loor ith m# chair, The men ere an-r# that e "ell o1er hen e ere electroc!ted+ )eca!*e the# had to .ee/ /ic.in- !* !/+ /ro//in- !* )ac. on the chair and re'attachin- the clothe* /e-*, E1er# time I "ell o1er+ the tort!rer hit me in the *tomach+ then rai*ed the 1olta-e, Later+ in the colon# I "o!nd o!t that (=> o" the omen had )een tort!red ith electric *hoc.*, Some had had electrode* /laced in their 1a-ina and a tr!ncheon in*erted in their an!*, I* that not *ome *ort o" "a*ci*m? B!t that a* @!*t the )e-innin-A there a* more to come, A)adan+ the man on the "loor+( ho t!rned o!t to )e Iranian) and I+ ere on a .ind o" con1e#or )elt o" tort!re,, I tho!-ht28 the Iranian i* the citiBen o" a "orei-n *tate 6 ho can the# )eat him !/? I" the# treat him li.e thi*+ it mean* the# can .ill !*8, Ne7t da# at (/m I a* in a national *ec!rit# committee interro-ator8* o""ice on the *econd "loor, There ere )ar* on the indo * and *mo.ed -la**, A /!*h# in1e*ti-ator ith a #ello "ace *at o//o*ite me ith hi* le-* cro**ed, A man in ci1ilian clothe* entered and introd!ced him*el" a* the head o" the %NB3 in1e*ti-ator# de/artment+ %ichi.o1,<Yo!r "riend con"e**ed that *he )ro!-ht C .ilo* o" o/i!m and heroin into the co!ntr#+ and #o! con"irmed it la*t ni-ht, 0e81e arre*ted #o!r )rother a* ell+ "or "inancin- the /!rcha*e, $idn8t he -i1e her D3===? Yo! di1ided the /ro"it* )et een #o! and thi* *mell* li.e 5= #ear* "or or-ani*ed crime,< ME$IEAL EFAMINATION M# e*cort+ a #o!n- *oldier+ *h#l# to!ched m# *ho!lder, 0e /a**ed #e*terda#8* %NB #ard, I a* )ein- led to the in1e*ti-ator# *ection+ to @ail, 0e mo1ed do n the corridor to a metal door, It o/ened onto a rather narro cell, In the *emi'-loom I co!ld )arel# ma.e o!t a man at the ta)le, 9e loo.ed o!t me in *ilence, 9e a* a criminolo-i*t, 9e told me to remo1e m# )ra+ )elt+ and *hoelace* i" I ore an#, 9e a* /olite and tact"!l and I anted to cr#, I decided to *it do n and tried to mo1e m# chair clo*er to the ta)le )!t co!ldn8t2 it a* hammered to the "loor, M# "in-er

Translator8s note1 Komitet natstional8noy *ezopasnosti - /ational 9ecurity (ommittee

/rint* ere ta.en and m# hand* and I a* e*corted o!t a-ain,

ere le"t *mothered in )lac., No

a* a re-i*tered criminal

The $octor8* o""ice had ma**i1e )ar* on the indo and a hea1# door, The doctor a* a relati1el# #o!n- T!r.men, There a* a red'haired+ middle'a-ed R!**ian oman )ehind her ho+ @!d-in- )# her a!thoritati1e demeano!r+ a* the )o** aro!nd there, 0hen the e*cort le"t+ the T!r.men told me to !ndre**, Somethin- com/a**ionate in her 1oice made me *tart to cr#, She e7amined me "ront and )ac.+ told me to lean "or ard+ /ro)ed m# )ac.+ and in*/ected m# )rea*t*+ hich ere noticea)l# red here the electrode* had )een, G$id the# hit #o!?< GYe*<, GGet dre**ed< *he *aid and -a1e me cotton ool, M# !nder ear a* *oa.in- ith )lood, M# !nder/ant* ere drenched in it, G$o #o! ha1e an# com/laint*?< *he a*.ed, GNo<, The doctor* ere hand in -lo1e ith the tort!rer*, I a* e*corted o!t to the cell*, In the cell+ Bi)i *it* o//o*ite me, I noticed her di*tended *tomach, GAre #o! /re-nant?< I a*.ed B!t it a* an enlar-ed li1er, The oman a* a dr!- addict and had -one cold t!r.e# in /ri*on, The -!ard* -a1e her Tramadol, GI" #o!81e -ot the )!c.* #o! can )!# 1od.a+ e1en heroin in hereH<*he *aid, She a*.ed hat I a* in "or, I told her an Iranian had come to A*h-a)at ith 5== -ram* o" heroin and 3= tele/hone n!m)er* in hi* /hone )oo.+ incl!din- mine and A)adan8* 2 e had )o!-ht * eet* "rom him in Gochand hen e ere in Iran, All the Itele/hone *!)*cri)er*8 on hi* li*t ere arre*ted, At hi* trial the Iranian named the indi1id!al he had )ro!-ht the heroin "or+ and hi* la #er and the Iranian con*!l ho a* /re*ent in co!rt+ ar-!ed "or @!*tice to )e done, B!t the /ro*ec!tion on the da#, ON REMAN$ 0e ere ta.en in a )lac. Maria to Ted@en *o!th ea*t o" A*h-a)at+ here the Interior Mini*tr# remand /ri*on i* located, So man# o" !* ere *t!""ed into the 1ehicle+ e nearl# *!""ocated )e"ore e arri1ed, 0e /o!red o!t o" the 1an li.e /ea*, Fort# o" !* had *tood "or 3;= mile*+ )reathin- in each other* "ace* and )ac.*, Three "ainted on the a#, T o *!""ocated, The "ri-htenin- thin- a* that no)od# cared, M# )rother a* al*o )ro!-ht to Ted@en @ail+ and hi* ca*e a* added to o!r*, 9i* i* a cred!lo!* and nice man, %a.a#e1+ the $e/!t# Mini*ter o" the Sec!rit# Ser1ice had /romi*ed on hi* hono!r a* an o""icer to relea*e me i" m# )rother con"e**ed to "inancin- a narcotic* rin-, %a.a#e1 a* al a#* /romi*in- thin-* on hi* hono!r Ia* an o""icer8, 9e anted to )e a -eneral, A"ter m# relea*e I "o!nd o!t he ne1er made it, 9e a* arre*ted and *entenced to a lon- term in @ail 6 )!t not "or hi* real *in*, 9e a* /!ni*hed onl# )eca!*e he .ne too m!ch, %a.a#e1 did not *ta# lon- in @ail2 he died, $i""erent 1er*ion* do the ro!nd*2 *ome *a# he han-ed him*el"+ *ome he too. /oi*on+ and other* *a# he a* m!rdered, I remem)er Ted@en "or the "reeBin- cold+ and the "iendi*h arder*, E1en hen there a* ice o!tdoor*+ there a* no heatin- in the @ail, Each cell a* )!ilt "or 35 /ri*oner*+ )!t /ac.ed ith t ice a* man#, There ere not eno!-h )ed* and omen ere made to *lee/ on the "loor "or ee.*, It a* the *ame in each o" the 3; cell*, No)od# co!ld *lee/ at ni-ht, There a* heeBinand co!-hin- on all *ide*, The three /ri*on matron*+ I remem)er+ here a* an-r# a* chained

)itche*, One a* R!**ian and a)o!t J= #ear* old, The other t o ere 5:' #ear'old T!r.men*, The three o" them o!ld @a) at #o! their tr!ncheon*+ or hit #o! in the "ace, Ted@en ha* a *o'called e7erci*e #ard on the *econd "loor, Thi* a* a *tone )o7+ ith cement "loorin- and metal )ar* almo*t to the ceilin-, The all* o" the e7erci*e #ard ere made o" *tone and the /ri*oner* contri1ed to car1e them ith the name* o" /ri*on *ta"" the# hated, There a* a )elie" *hared )# /ri*oner* and -!ard* ali.e+ that i" *omeone8* name -ot car1ed on the all o" the e7erci*e #ard+ the# ere *!re to end !/ in @ail them*el1e*, And it did ha//en *e1eral time*, Once d!rin- m# e7erci*e /eriod I clearl# *a the name o" m# in1e*ti-ator+ %l#ch M!rado1, 9e did not .no a)o!t it, On one occa*ion+ hen he a* /re**!ri*in- me to incriminate m#*el"+ I *aid2 G$id an#one tell #o! #o!r name i* in the e7erci*e #ard?< %l#ch M!rado1 t!rned /ale+ r!*hed to ard* the door "or *ome rea*on+ then t!rned )ac. and a*.ed in an !n*tead# 1oice2 GAre #o! l#in-? $id #o! *ee it #o!r*el"? Ean #o! era*e it?< G9o can I era*e it? It8* car1ed in *tone< M# la*t ord* com/letel# *hoo. him, 9e *et a*ide the interro-ation record+ called the /ri*on e*cort+ and had me ta.en *trai-ht )ac. to the cell, The ne7t da# e recei1ed o!r char-e *heet*+ and ere tried the "ollo in- da#, A)adan a* *entenced to 3( #ear* in @ail, I -ot 3:+ m# )rother 35 and the Iranian a* *entenced to 5=,0e had 3= da#* to a//eal )!t didn8t )other2 *entence* co!ld -o !/+ )!t not do n, SERVING TIME $a*h-o!B omen8* colon# i* in the o!t*.irt* o" the cit# on &a-orodna#a St+ a)o!t *i7 min!te* "rom the rail a# *tation, 0hen the Blac. Maria dri1e* thro!-h the -ate*+ it *eem* #o! can *ee the hole cam/ at once, Onl# later do #o! notice the C'metre hi-h /erimeter all o" rein"orced concrete+ /ainted hite+ and the )ar)ed ire reathin- it in*ide and o!t+ al*o /ainted hite in /lace*, In*ide the /erimeter rim there i* an em/t# I"or)idden8 Bone+ here the /ri*on -!ard*8 atchto er* *tand, Gro!/ed o1er a lar-e territor# are *e1en old+ *K!at li1in- )arrac.*+ a )ath'ho!*e+ li)rar# and other )!ildin-* "or the /ri*on admini*tration and acco!ntanc# !nit*, The *cene loo.* almo*t a)andoned2 the omen /ri*oner* and their -!ard* are at or. d!rin- the da#+ either at the )la*t' "!rnace* o" the G$inamo< )ric. /lant+ or in the te7tile ind!*tr#+ here the# ma.e r!-*, The admini*trator* o" the colon# erre 1er# /ro!d that the# laid r!-*+ made )# $%& *la1e* !nder the "eet o" Lre*ident Ni#aBo1 hen he came to $a*h-o!B . E1er# Th!r*da# a -ro!/ o" C='J= omen arri1ed at the colon# "rom Ted@en+ and ere /!t in K!arantine, For the "ir*t da# #o! ere made to *tand "rom 3=AM till (LM+ !na)le to *it do n+ to drin.+ eat+ or -o to the toilet, Some omen "ainted and la# on the "loor here the# ere, Other* o!ld !rinate or de"ecate here the# *tood, Yo! *tood "acin- the all a* tho!-h in a trance, Yo! anted to die,

All thi* time #o! ere )ein- *earched "rom head to "oot )# a -#naecolo-i*t, Thi* a* not done "or the *a.e o" #o!r health+ )!t *o #o! o!ld not )rin- an#thin- "or)idden in #o!r !nder ear, Then at (/m+ the d!t# -!ard *ho ed o"" the /!ni*hment cell+ to intimidate the ne inta.e "!rther, A"ter that e ere ta.en to the li)rar# here the Bone chie" /er*onall# allocated !* o!r )arrac.*, 0e ere made to *tand )are "oot in "ront o" the commi**ion+ lo erin- o!r -aBe to their "eet and .ee/in- o!r mo!th* ti-ht *h!t, An# de1iation* "rom the r!le led to the /!ni*hment cell, Then J= o" !* ere )!ndled into the old K!arantine )arrac.*+ 5: meter* *K!are+ and .e/t there "or M'3= da#*, In the*e !n*anitar# condition*+ #o! didn8t .no hat the# ere Idi*in"ectin-8 #o!r *.in ith+ or ho the# carried o!t )lood te*t*, Man# o" the /ri*oner* in K!arantine had TB+ *#/hili*+ e/ile/*# and mental di*order*, 0hen e came o!t e ere -i1en /ri*on clothe*2 )lac. ro)e* ith a hite ta- on the che*t+ )earin- o!r name, 0e ere /ri*oner* ith G"!ll ri-ht*<, The ne7t Th!r*da# another contin-ent o" J= omen o!ld come "rom Ted@en and )e /!t in K!arantine, 0here did the# all "it? The colon# a* )!ilt "or M==+ )!t alread# had *e1eral tho!*and omen in it, The )ath ho!*e a* a 1er# /ro"ita)le /lace, The )ath *!/er1i*or a* a #o!n- oman o" a)o!t C=+ doin- a *entence "or m!rder, She handed o1er the omen8* entrance "ee* to the colon# director+ a)o!t 3== dollar* /er month, B!t a* a )ath *!/er1i*or *he earned m!ch more, The in"amo!* C= min!te a*h co*t 3= === manat, Yo! co!ld ta.e a )ath hene1er #o! anted+ and "or a* lon- a* #o! anted+ #o! @!*t needed to /a#, On to/ o" that+ the )ath ho!*e t!rned into *ome .ind o" a den at ni-ht, The Ge/a!let*< (o""icer*) and *oldier* o!ld entertain them*el1e* ith the /ri*oner*+ or ma#)e it a* the other a# aro!nd, No)od# "orced an#)od#, There ere eno!-h illin- ta.er* on )oth *ide*, Ni-ht or-ie* in the )ath ho!*e o)1io!*l# ended later ith /re-nancie* and )irth*, There a* no doctor in the /ri*on colon#, The e7/ectant mother a* )ro!-ht to the cit# ho*/ital onl# hen *he co!ldn8t -i1e a )irth on her o n, Fi1e min!te* a"ter *he -a1e )irth+ and ea. ith lo** o" )lood+ *he o!ld )e *ent )ac. to /ri*on, She a* not e1en allo ed to )rea*t"eed the child or to e7/erience the onder"!l *en*ation o" motherhood, O"ten the mother and child o!ld ne1er *ee each other a-ain. Man# omen died in the colon#+ )eca!*e no one a* in a h!rr# to mo1e them to ho*/ital, Their )odie* ere )!ried or handed o1er to relati1e*+ and the child a* /!t in $a*h-o!B or/hana-e. Ni-ht 1i*it* to the )athho!*e o"ten ended in a)ortion*+ and a)ortion* in the /ri*on colon# ere a dramaN An# oman ho co!ldn8t ait till the end o" her *entence+ dreamed o" ha1in- an a)ortion,N It a* her tr!m/'card+ and the thin- the -!ard* "eared mo*t o" all, She o!ld ait onl# "or thi*+ *o that i" the or*e came to the or*t+ *he co!ld *a# he ra/ed her, 9o co!ld he /ro1e he didn8t? Ra/e* did ha//en in the colon#, Rarel#+ )!t the# ha//ened, The -!ard* ere "ri-htened o" -ettin- tan-led !/ ith the con1ict*, B!t the# anted *e7H Sometime* a -!ard o!ld catch a /ri*oner tradin- in dr!-*, She o!ld * ear on oath that the -!ard *he had *e7 ith in the )ath had *!//lied them, B!t !*!all# the*e drama* ere *orted o!t h!*h'h!*h+ in*ide the colon#, 0h# )ite the hand that "eed* #o!? 0h# a*h dirt# linen in /!)lic? E1er#)od# .ne 1er# ell there ere dr!-*+ *K!irt*+ /ill*+ 1od.a+ condom*+ cell

/hone*+ etc in the /ri*on colon#, It a* all "or)idden )!t it a* all there, B!t no one o!ld tal. a)o!t it 6 it a* TABOO, A cell /hone o!ld la*t "rom one to three da#* in the /ri*on, A"ter that #o! o!ld de"initel# )e *ho//ed+ and it o!ld )e ta.en a a#, Thi* a* all done @!*t "or *ho 2 the /ri*on admini*tration co!ld not )an them com/letel#+ )eca!*e the# o!ld lo*e a *o!rce o" income2 not *omethin- anted )# them or the /hone*8 *!//lier,, I" o!ld anted to ma.e a /hone call 6 no /ro)lem, O!*t /a# 3==+=== manat and -o ro!nd to the /olitical o""icer8* o""ice, The li)rar# a* one o" the cla**ie*t /lace* in the /ri*on, Formall# it I)elon-ed8 to Elena %oBa.+ the onl# con1icted contract .iller in T!r.meni*tan+ )!t in /ractice it a* /aid "or )# the /!)lic /ro*ec!tor o" $a*h-o!B re-ion2 Elena %oBa.8* lo1er, At *ome /oint+ *ome *!/er-ra** *ent ord o" thi* relation*hi/ o!t o" the colon#+ and a commi**ion came to in*/ect the li)rar#, The# "o!nd condom*+ /er"!me and !nder ear there, Elena8* .e#* ere ta.en a a# and *he lo*t her co*# /o*ition, It a* -i1en to $Bhamal Anna.l#che1a+ ho !*ed to teach /hilolo-# at the In*tit!te o" A-ric!lt!re, 9er "ather a* the "ormer Rector o" the T!r.meni*tan State Uni1er*it#, She and her *i*ter ere *er1in- 5: #ear* "or tran*/ortin- and *torin- heroin, E1er#one .ne Gi!ldBhemal+ im/ri*oned "or m!rderin- her h!*)and, She ran a *ort o" )an. in the /ri*on+ hich a* e7tremel# /ro"ita)le, She had acce** to the "or)idden Bone here normall# /ri*oner* co!ld )e *hot "or Gattem/ted e*ca/e<, For her+ the "or)idden Bone a* li.e an !n!*!all# lar-e *a"e+ here *he co!ld *tore 1od.a and dr!-*+then *ell them, Yo! co!ld )!# meat+ )!tter+ * eet* and )i*c!it* "rom her at an# time 6 an#thin- #o! anted, She *ent /art o" her /ro"it o!t*ide to her "amil#+ and /art *he .e/t "or her t!rno1er and )!#in- more *!//lie*, She *hared her /ro"it*+ o" co!r*e+ ith the /ri*on admini*tration+ and the omen ho *!//lied her *toc., 0e ere told in the /ri*on colon# that /eo/le li.e !* o!ld not )e in*ide "or lon-A a #ear or t o+ and then e o!ld )e relea*ed, The im/ortant thin- a* not to -et on the )lac. li*t o" L!)lic Lro*ec!tor General, Thi* con*i*ted mo*tl# o" mem)er* o" the intelli-ent*ia 6 /eo/le ith -ood ed!cation+ hom Lre*ident Ni#aBo1 con*idered hi* /otential enemie*2 the one*+ ho did not *hare hi* 1ie *, The# -ot no remi**ion, E1er#one *aid that Lre*ident Ni#aBo1 .e/t hi* o n /er*onal co/# o" the )lac. li*t, I re/eat+ he i* e1er# here2 li.e a /oliceman at the -ate chec.inthe doc!ment* o" e1er# /a**er')# in ca*e the# are criminal*, 9a1in- heard a lot a)o!t thi* d!rin- the /reliminar# in1e*ti-ation I concecaled m# hi-her ed!cation and the "act that I a* a teacher, A* "ar a* the /ri*on *ta"" .ne + I le"t *chool at 3J and ne1er did an#thin- e7ce/t ho!*e or., It a* *a"er that a#+i" ed!cated /eo/le made the Lre*ident an-r# and a--re**i1e, Li.e a red ra- to a )!ll . One #o!n- oman "rom EhardBho! a* in the colon# on I/olitical8 char-e*, Ma#a Soltano1a8* "ather a* either *ome hi-h'ran.in- )!rea!crat+ or a colonel ith a re/!tation a* an o//o*itioni*t,, Sen*in- he a* at ri*.+ he "led to nei-h)o!rin- UB)e.i*tan, B!t hi* da!-hter a* arre*ted in*tead+ acc!*ed o" ro))er# and *entenced to M #ear* in @ail, There had act!all# )een no ro))er#2 Ma#a had -one to 1i*it a oman+ ho o ed her mone#, The oman a*.ed her to come )ac. tomorro + and hen *he did 6 *he a* arre*ted, The "r!it* o" )ein- Itailed8 "or month*, At the end o" Octo)er 5==: the li*t o" /eo/le amne*tied a* /!)li*hed, Amon- other name*+ ere mine+ m# )rother8* and A)adan8*, 0e ere 1er# -lad and+ /ro)a)l#+ not too *!r/ri*ed+ altho!-h e ere *!//o*ed to )e *er1in- 1er# lon- term*, E1en /ri*oner* ith *entence* o" 5= #ear* and more co!ld )e relea*ed+ /ro1ided the# ere not on the L!)lic Lro*ec!tor General8* )lac. li*t,

Li"e a* li1elier than !*!al ro!nd the colon# on amne*t# da#, The *tall*+ commercial *ho/*+ )ar* and /!)* did -ood )!*ine**, There a* the delicio!* *mell o" )ar)ec!e* and "ried "i*h, There a* a *ea o" )eer and other alcohol, Leo/le o!ld circ!late near)# in their )e*t o!t"it*, It a* noi*# all aro!nd, O" co!r*e+ there ere man# relati1e* in the cro d ho had come "or their mother*+ i1e*+ *i*ter*, There ere man# #o!n- men too+ *ho//in- "or Gli1e< -ood*+ and ma.in- their intention* o)1io!*, Lri*oner* ere amne*tied not @!*t "or e""ect+ )!t )eca!*e the /ri*on colonie* and @ail* did not -et one tenth o" the *tate "!ndin- the# needed "or their !/.ee/, In other ord*+ the -o1ernment /!t /eo/le in @ail "ir*t and onl# then tho!-ht ho to -et the mone# to "eed them, $e*/ite thi*+ /ri*oner* ith relati1e* are -enerall# o., Familie* *!//ort them hile the# are )ehind )ar*, The# *a# e1er# T!r.men ha* )een in @ail, I ondered hether it a* nece**ar# to im/ri*on three hel/le** )lind omen+ or an (:'#ear old+ ho co!ld not al. on her o n, She had to do roll'call t ice dail# at ; AM and at (LM, The hole colon# "retted ith im/atience "or an ho!r+ hile *he made her a# to the line'!/, And *he a* @!*t ta.in- the )lame "or *omethin- her *on had doneN A *tran-e thin- ha//ened a"ter m# relea*e, Once+ hen I a* -oin- to the mar.et+ I *a a man o" a)o!t C:'#ear* old h!rr#in- in m# direction+ dre**ed in a )lac. *!it, O!r e#e* met+ hen e ere *i7 or *e1en *te/* a a# "rom each other, Thi* a* the man+ ho had attached electrode* to m# )rea*t+ electroc!ted me+ and .ic.ed me in the "ace, 9i* name i* Aman Ata#e1, $o #o! .no hat I "elt @!*t then? Fear, I "elt the "ear that t!rn* a h!man )ein- into a h!nted animal+ !na)le to thin.+ or control her action*, I al.ed on li.e a ro)ot and hated m#*el" "or thi* ice cold "ear, 0h# did I not "eel di*-!*t+ or di*dain+ or indi""erence "or him? 0h# didn8t I hate him? 0h# did I "ear him? B# Ba#ram-!l Annae1a