FORCED LABOR IN THE USSR: PRELIMINARY EVALUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R002100160013-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 23, 2007
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: November 2, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

Central Intelligence Agency
y
Honorable Charles H. Percy, Chairman
Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
In reference to your letter of 1 October,
attached is a short unclassified evaluation
of forced labor in the USSR to bring you up
to date. We are preparing a more detailed
paper on the subject which will be ready soon.
Sincerely,
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Attachment:
As Stated
 Approved For Release 2007/03/03: CIA-RDP83M00914R002100160013-2
Central IntdlVnce Agency
Forced Labor in the USSR: Preliminary Evaluation
1. Information obtained over the past two months reconfirms that
the Soviets have routinely employed common prisoners, probationers, and
parolees as unskilled labor on pipelines and other major construction
projects through the late 1970s. We also know that forced labor is
being used on other pipelines currently under construction, and therefore
it seems likely that such labor might also be used on the Siberian gas
export pipeline. Since that line has only been under construction since
March, and given the nature of the Soviet system, it will probably be
some time before we can positively confirm such use.
2. The forced labor population consists of people convicted of
both serious crimes and petty crimes such as drunkenness and hooliganism.
The two categories of forced labor are those confined in guarded
facilities such as forced labor colonies and those who are not confined,
primarily probationers and parolees. Based on incomplete information,
we estimate that more than 4 million Soviet citizens -- about 1.5 percent
of the general population -- are now serving sentences at forced labor.
-- About 2 million of these are confined: 85 percent in
forced labor camps and the remainder in prisons.
-- Approximately 1.5 million, convicted of crimes for
which they could have received sentences of confine-
ment, have instead been given probation with "compulsory
involvement in labor." Most of them are working at
construction jobs far from their homes.
-- Roughly 500,000 have been paroled from confinement but
remain obligated to perform forced labor for the
remainder of their terms. Many of these also are
working at construction sites.
-- Perhaps 100,000 or so are sentenced at any one time to
"correctional tasks" without confinement; they are
working for low pay while continuing to live at home.
PIA lop
041.
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3. Those prisoners confined in forced labor colonies near
the pipeline route conceivably could be tapped for unskilled work
on the pipeline and its compressor stations. If forced laborers
were used, it is more likely that they would be drawn from among
those who are not confined. According to the First Deputy Minister
for the Construction of Oil and Gas Industry Enterprises, 120,000
to 130,000 people would be employed on the export pipeline at peak
construction periods. Most of this work force would be skilled
workers, minimizing the need for unskilled forced laborers. None-
theless, the general shortage of labor in the USSR, particularly
in the area west of the Ural Mountains, could argue for the use of
forced labor on the export pipeline.
4. In the past, unconfined forced laborers numbering in the
thousands have been used on such major construction projects as the
huge Kama River truck plant (the world's largest) and the Baykal-Amur
Magistral (BAM) railroad. Parolees and probationers are also employed
in industrial production and other economic activities. There seems
little doubt that they are employed wherever labor shortages exist --
i.e., where the location is remote, amenities lacking, the environment
hostile, or the work hazardous or unhealthful.
 Approved For Release 2007/03/03: CIA-RDP83M00914R002100160013-2
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee
1 - DCI w/att
1 - DDCI w/att
1 - SA/IA/DCI w/att
1 - Executive Reg w/att
1 - ODDI w/att
1 - DDI Registry w/att
1 - D/SE/SOVA
1 - SE/M/SOVA 2 - OD/SOVA
SOVA/D/SE (1 Nov 82)
Approved For Release 2007/03/03: CIA-RDP83M00914R002100160013-2