The scientists and engineers at a sharashka were prisoners picked by the Soviet government from various camps and prisons and assigned to work on scientific and technological problems. Living conditions were usually much better than in an average taiga camp, mostly because of the absence of hard labor.
thE scienTISTs and engiNEers AT a shArashKA WEre PrisoNERs PIckeD By thE soviet goverNment fROm vArIouS CAMps and PRiSons aND ASsIGNed to WOrk on ScIEntifiC And technOlOGIcAL proBlemS. living coNditioNs wEre usualLy MUCh betteR THaN in an averAgE taigA camp, mOStLY becaUse Of The AbSencE Of harD LaBor.