Okulicki NKVD - A mug shot of a man in a suit and tie

Gulag refers to the Soviet Union's system of forced labor camps, which were established during Joseph Stalin's regime in the early 20th century. The term "Gulag" is an acronym for the Russian phrase "Glavnoe Upravlenie Lagerei," which means "Main Camp Administration." The Gulag system was used to imprison and punish political dissidents, criminals, and other perceived enemies of the Soviet state. Conditions in the camps were harsh, with prisoners subjected to long hours of hard labor, inadequate food and medical care, and brutal treatment by guards. It is estimated that millions of people died in the Gulag system over the course of its existence.