On the island of Olchon, the largest on Lake Baikal, in the settlement of Pieschchanka, one of the many NKVD gulags operated from the 1930s to the 1960s. Prisoners of many nationalities, including Poles, were held here. It is estimated that some 15,000 people may have passed through the gulag during its operation, being forced to work in the fish processing plant. The prisoners who died as a result of the devastating work, disease and malnutrition were buried near the gulag. At an undetermined time after the Second World War, the remains of the deceased were moved to the cemetery located in the settlement of Chużyr on the same island. Crosses were placed on the graves of the Catholics. Some of the graves bear the names of the deceased. The cemetery is well maintained.
Near the village of Chużyr, there is a monument dedicated to the memory of exiled Poles.

Compiled by T. Zachara / MKiDN, VIII 2025