The women of Siberia's prisons

A new photo series by Elena Anosova about Russia's incarcerated women

Elena Anosova spent several months in 2014 meeting and photographing women incarcerated in Siberia. Some of these women were in prison for the first time, while others are repeat offenders.

Anosova asked each of the women in her photographs to hold an object that was dear to her. Some chose the Bible, others held up a cat, and some women could think of nothing in prison that comforts them.

This photo series is part of a trilogy "Section" by Anosova about closed women’s institutions. In the confined space of a prison, women are under constant surveillance, without the slightest opportunity to be alone. Exposure to many years of this type of “nudity” and the loss of intimacy deforms a person, transforming them into something every bit as cruel and dangerous to society as the crimes that land these people in jail.

Anosova explores the dynamic relationship between different levels of isolation (and self-isolation) and supervisory control over women, looking at the interplay of emotional and social factors with women confined to these closed communities.

This is Khavva, born in 1984. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 6.6 years. Eve has two daughters, ages five and nine. She doesn't use her real name in prison or in her daily life. She prefers to be called Mila. She's holding in her hands a rosary from home that she's owned for many years. Eve's roots are Dagestani.

This is Svetlana, born in 1981. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 5 years. Svetlana has four daughters, ages two, seven, eight, and thirteen. This photograph was taken on the shop floor, where she's training to become a stucco and house painter.

This is Yelena, born in 1981. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 7 years. Caring for her orchids, Svetlana is pictured here in her sleeping quarters, which the inmates have decorated themselves. Her parents are waiting for her back home.

This is Angela, born in 1966. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 2.6 years. Angela is deeply religious. The Bible she's holding she brought from home.

This is Yulia, born in 1989. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 8.6 years. She refused to say anything more about herself.

This is Natalia, born in 1962. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 9 years. Natalia is pictured here in development office of the prison's garment-manufacturing wing, where she works as a design seamstress. She's holding an experimental new design for police uniforms. Natalia is wearing a gift from her granddaughter in her hair.

This is Yulia, born in 1990. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 8.1 years. Yulia is pictured here in some of the prison's most comfortable sleeping quarters. The watch on her wrist is a gift from friends.

This is Tatiana, born in 1972. She's in a prison colony for repeat offenders, sentenced to 5 years. Tatiana's parents and sister are waiting for her back home. She is pictured here with her cat, Manya, to which she's very attached.

This is Olga, born in 1964. She's in a prison colony for repeat offenders, sentenced to 2.5 years (extended from an original sentence of 1.8 years). Olga has a 22-year-old daughter. One of Olga's favorite pastimes is solving crossword puzzles.

This is Anna, born in 1977. She's in a prison colony for repeat offenders, sentenced to 8.6 years (extended from an original sentence of 5 years). Anna has five sons, ages 10, 12, 16, 17, and 19. While incarcerated, Anna has been a frequent reader of the Bible.

This is Tatiana, born in 1966. She's in a prison colony for repeat offenders, sentenced to 3 years. Tatiana has no home, no family, and lists as her address the location of a closed-down rehab center. She knits by request, collecting small fees from fellow inmates.

This is Marina, born in 1994. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 6 years. Back home, her parents and grandparents are waiting for her. Marina was pregnant when she was imprisoned. Her baby died during a Caesarean section. The string bracelet on her wrist is from home. In prison, Marina has made enemies, some of whom forcibly cut her hair short.

This is Anna, born in 1988. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 2.7 years. Anna's daughter is 9-years-old. Anna is pictured here holding a soldier's uniform in the prison's garment factory, where she works. Many women in prison are trained as seamstresses. Those without prior education are required to learn the trade, to qualify for early parole.

This is Yekaterina, born in 1986. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 8 years. The watch is from home. She didn't share anything else about herself.

This is Alena, born in 1988. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 4 years. Alena's daughter is 5-years-old. This pillow used to be in a lace pillowcase sent from home, but this was against the prison's rules.

This is Helen, born in 1962. She's in a prison colony for repeat offenders, sentenced to 5 years (extended from an original sentence of 2.5 years). Helen's daughter is 32-years-old, and her son died a few years ago. Helen has four grandchildren. She is pictured here knitting presents for her loved ones. Helen is in the process of obtaining a health insurance policy, which is necessary to transfer to a lower-security prison.

This is Yulia, born in 1990. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 8.5 years. Yulia cares for several plants in the prison's recreation room. She didn't want to say anything more about herself.

This is Yelena, born in 1985. She's in a prison colony for repeat offenders, sentenced to 3 years. Her Chanel t-shirt is from home. Inmates are only allowed to wear dark or gray colors. Many women wear bright, colorful shirts to bed, as pajamas.

This is Raisa, born in 1941. She's in a prison colony for first-time offenders, sentenced to 4 years. Raisa has one son. Raisa is photographed here in the prison's hospital. She has difficulty walking, eating, and writing, and relies on the help of other inmates to maintain her basic hygiene.