Abstract:

This paper explores cases of ‘punished peoples’ in the special settlements, emphasizing how their decades-long experiences of living under "special settler" status severely limited their human rights. By examining personal file records of special settlers and related archival sources, it delineates the defining characteristics of their experiences.

The decree 'On the legal status of special settlers' initially claimed that special settlers were granted all the rights of USSR citizens, but subsequent paragraphs detailed numerous exceptions. Instructions for structural bodies introduced a system of special settlements marked by strict supervision and control, contradicting the principles outlined in the tenth chapter of the 1936 Soviet Constitution regarding citizens' rights and fundamentally violating basic human rights. Firstly, special settlers were forbidden from leaving their designated areas without permission from the NKVD commandant. Unauthorized departures were treated as escapes and subjected to criminal liability. Initially, violations resulted in fines or short-term arrests, but a decree from November 26, 1948, escalated the penalties to 20 years of hard labor for unauthorized departures. Secondly, the regime imposed stringent labor restrictions on special settlers, requiring them to perform socially useful work within their assigned exile locations. The local Soviets, along with the NKVD, organized their employment in various sectors, often under unfavorable conditions. This forced labor disregarded their qualifications and ambitions, leaving them dependent on the whims of colleagues and superiors, which could result in loss of job opportunities. Thirdly, the special settler status severely restricted educational and personal growth opportunities. Special settlers were systematically denied enrollment in higher education institutions regardless of their academic performance. Travel restrictions further prevented them from pursuing studies outside the forced settlement areas, crushing their aspirations for higher education and career advancement. Additionally, children born in exile faced the same harsh regime and were often unjustly labeled as traitors, leading to significant moral and psychological distress.

In conclusion, this paper highlights the contradictions between official decrees and the actual conditions of life for special settlers, demonstrating how their human rights were fundamentally compromised under the system.