Notorious former prison opens hostel for guests complete with solitary confinement and mandatory gruel.

American chains Hilton and Marriott among the venues that turned away exiled former billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky's political movement.

Prisoners proudly growing vines in Kolyma where the average annual temperature is minus 3C.

Inmate making substitutes for imported goods will see penal colonies produce output worth 500 million roubles.

Husband of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 24, says her health a 'major concern' after two hunger strikes.

The anti-Kremlin campaigner will serve remaining time in jail clinic in Siberia.

Otto Lagerfeld held in bleak camp in Verkhoyansk for four years of First World War, show contemporary documents.

Zhirinovsky renews old idea about using east of Russia as a place of punishment.

Siberian woman sets fire to large haystack in revenge for being blocked on web.