Kemistri

In Belarus, the “khimiya” (kemistri) open prison system is a form of detention where inmates are assigned to work—often in industrial or chemical facilities—and live in supervised dormitories rather than traditional prison cells.

This system originated in the late 1940s in the Soviet Union, where prisoners were used as labor in high-risk industries, such as chemical plants, hence the name “chemistry” (khimiya).

Today, it remains a part of the Belarusian penal system, often used for those sentenced to shorter terms or for less severe crimes. Inmates in “khimiya” have more freedom of movement compared to those in closed prisons, but they are still under strict supervision and must return to their designated living quarters after work. This system has also been used for political prisoners, including activists and protesters, especially in the context of the recent crackdowns in Belarus

In Cyrillic: химия / хімія