Russia Gulag

An aerial image shot from the drone shows the security perimeter of the forced labor prison camp known as Perm-36, which was part of the large prison camp system established by the former Soviet Union during the Stalin era, known as the Gulag. Wednesday, October 10, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

An aerial image shot from the drone shows the security perimeter of the forced labor prison camp known as Perm-36, which was part of the large prison camp system established by the former Soviet Union during the Stalin era, known as the Gulag. Wednesday, October 10, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

An aerial image shot from the drone shows the security perimeter of the forced labor prison camp known as Perm-36, which was part of the large prison camp system established by the former Soviet Union during the Stalin era, known as the Gulag. Wednesday, October 10, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

A photo of Alexander Solzhenitsyn in prisoners clothing seen in the gulag museum in Magadan region, Russia, Wednesday, October 3, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

A letter reading "please have mercy to spend two kopeks (russian small coin) to buy an envelope to put in this small note and send it to Nezhinskaya 10, to Ms Kanevskoy. Thank you in advance, wish you to have no need in such favor" in the Gulag museum exposition in Magadan region, Russia, Wednesday, October 3, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Tamara Sergeyeva, a head of the committee of the rehabilitation of the victims of political repressions in Magadan region, Russia, Thursday, October 4, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

People walk on the streets of Magadan, Russia, Thursday, October 4, 2018. During the Stalin era, Magadan was a major transit center for prisoners sent to labor camps. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Snow falls over forest and small stream along the Kolyma Highway that is also known as the Road of Bones, because the skeletons of the forced laborers who died during its construction were used in many of its foundations. Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Snow falls over forest along the Kolyma Highway that is also known as the Road of Bones, because the skeletons of the forced laborers who died during its construction were used in many of its foundations. Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Snow falls over forest along the Kolyma Highway that is also known as the Road of Bones, because the skeletons of the forced laborers who died during its construction were used in many of its foundations. Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Snow falls over forest along the Kolyma Highway that is also known as the Road of Bones, because the skeletons of the forced laborers who died during its construction were used in many of its foundations. Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

A dog welcomes a man in the camp of the gold miners in Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Snow falls over forest along the Kolyma Highway that is also known as the Road of Bones, because the skeletons of the forced laborers who died during its construction were used in many of its foundations. Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

A morning view of the river over the mountains in Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

A morning view of the river over the mountains in Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

A morning view of the river over the mountains in Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

A morning view of the river over the mountains in Magadan region, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

A cemetery sign seen over the snow at the cemetery of the ... camp. Names of dead prisoners were not written on these signs, only number of the row and the column were recorded. in Magadan region, Russia, Sunday, September 30, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

An Orthodox cross that was erected recently, seen at the cemetery of Gulag prisoners near to one of the former forced labor camps. Names of dead prisoners were not written on the signs, only number of the row and the column were recorded. in Magadan region, Russia, Sunday, September 30, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Boots and barbed wire seen under the snow at the site of the Butugychag labor camp, the camp is mostly known for its deadly uranium mines, in Magadan region, Russia, Monday, October 1, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Remains of the prison house with dilapidated cages seen at the site of the Butugychag labor camp, the camp is mostly known for its deadly uranium mines, in Magadan region, Russia, Monday, October 1, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Remains of the prison house with dilapidated cages seen at the site of the Butugychag labor camp, the camp is mostly known for its deadly uranium mines, in Magadan region, Russia, Monday, October 1, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Remains of the prison house with dilapidated cages seen at the site of the Butugychag labor camp, the camp is mostly known for its deadly uranium mines, in Magadan region, Russia, Monday, October 1, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Russia Gulag

Remains of the prison house with dilapidated cages seen at the site of the Butugychag labor camp, the camp is mostly known for its deadly uranium mines, in Magadan region, Russia, Monday, October 1, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)