A prisoner has escaped from the maximum security Black Dolphin penal colony in Russia's Orenburg region. According to the local prison administration’s press service, this is the first escape from the colony in its history.
The fugitive is Alexander Alexandrov, a 32-year-old Orenburg resident who had been convicted of robbery in 2012. Although Alexandrov’s sentence was due to end in July 2017, the prisoner managed to escape on the night of Oct. 22, when he left his place of work at a cinder block manufacturing facility.
Police are actively engaged in the search for the escaped prisoner, and have asked local people to contact them with any information they may have on his whereabouts.
The Black Dolphin penal colony was constructed in the early 2000’s. In addition to housing prisoners under “maximum security” conditions, it also contains a unit for prisoners serving life sentences.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
