Soviet Union was one of those states that left a lot of unsolved mysteries and unsolved questions.As a totalitarian state with a strict control of all spheres of life of ordinary citizens, the Soviet Union had a proper constitution, which by all means defend the priorities that were at the heart of the communist government.In particular, a special case of political repression was aimed at those who have expressed some discontent with the current government.Political repressions gained immense scale under Joseph Stalin.For this purpose there is a special article 58. Until now, historians can not come to the same conclusion with respect to this issue.Therefore it is necessary to find out whether or not a citizen of the Soviet Union, even for a simple anecdote about the leader could be in camps or at all to be shot.
Article 58 of the Criminal Code of the USSR
all political prisoners, irrespective of their crimes, were 58 article of the Criminal Code of the USSR.The article provides for punishment for counterrevolutionary activities.What does she like?Under the counter-revolutionary activity involves actions to prevent the spread and realization of the various revolutionary ideals and regulations that support the Communist government.The first paragraph of this article states that the counter-revolutionary action - is any attempt to undermine or weaken the Soviet power in the territory of the USSR, as well as attempts to weaken the external power and the political, military or economic gains.According to the concept of solidarity of workers, such as the responsibility lay on the perpetrators of the crime potiv state, which is not part of the USSR, but lived on the proletarian system.
In fact, Article 58 in the time of Stalin was designed to bring to justice those who in any way or has been denied the enemy of Soviet power.In modern society, these people would be called extremists.It should be a closer look at all the items, which include Article 58 in order to understand what falls under that Soviet power was considered counterrevolutionary.
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1a contains provisions relating to treason, ie siding with the enemy, the issuance of state secrets to the enemy, spying, flight abroad.For these crimes capital punishment was shooting, and under mitigating circumstances - imprisonment for 10 years with confiscation of (full or partial) of the property.This should say a few words.Since the Soviet Union at that time was in a very hostile environment, it is not surprising that the flight (this flight, and not to leave the country) was punished so severely, because in fact it was the same as treason.
paragraph 1b contains the same provisions as in 1a, but with regards to the persons in the military service.And of course, that the same crimes committed by military service are more serious, however, if these crimes at all there is any gradation.So it is not surprising that the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation as severely punishing military.
Paragraph 1c establishes the responsibility of the families of servicemen who have committed a crime.If the family members knew about the crime, but did not report the authorities or contributed to its commission, they are condemned to a term of 5 to 10 years imprisonment with confiscation of property.This item can be considered one of the most inhumane throughout the article, but as shown by the study of archives on the item serving the sentence only 0.6% of all political prisoners, that is, it is rarely used.RSFSR Criminal Code can be called inhumane, but because of the realities of the then power it seemed appropriate.
item 1g punishes failure to soldiers of the impending treason.For the military then it was direct responsibility, so it's no surprise that it is so severely punished.As for civilians, there was item 12, which provided for the same penalty.But then-systems is now apparent cruel punishment looked quite logical, because at that time there was no liberal thoughts.
Paragraph 2 Paragraph 2 provided for capital punishment - execution - for those who tried through armed insurrection to overthrow Soviet power in the regions and the Union republics.Sometimes as a mild form of punishment we were used expulsion from the Soviet Union deprived of all rights and confiscation of property.Such actions severely punished and a number of modern states.
Paragraphs 3, 4, 5
Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 provide that for cooperation with foreign countries, aiding the enemy spies or other actions directed against the Soviet Union, the same punishment as in paragraph 2.
Item 6
Item 6 touched all that was considered espionage, namely the issue of an enemy state secrets or sensitive information, which are not secret, but it may not be disclosed.For this also relied shooting or expulsion from the country.
items 7, 8, 9
items 7, 8 and 9, applies the same punishment for the counterrevolutionary sabotage or terrorist acts on the territory of the USSR.
Paragraph 10 - anti-Soviet agitation
Perhaps the most notorious is the point 10. It addresses the issue of so-called anti-Soviet agitation, the essence of which was that any incitement, propaganda for the overthrow of the Soviet government, possession of banned literature, publicexpression of discontent and so on is punishable by imprisonment for at least 6 months.Indeed, the Soviet state is no such thing as freedom of speech, was not.This clause is present in a modified form and in the Criminal Code, Article 280.
Paragraphs 11 - 14
Paragraphs 11 to 14 contain provisions with regards to bureaucratic crimes, anti-people acts during the Civil War (and later - and the GreatWorld), preparation of acts of terrorism and so on.
Called to those affected by this article - the enemy of the people.Such people, as stated above, were subjected to execution, expulsion from the country, sitting in prisons and camps.Many convicted under article 58 were those who really deserved it, but there were also those who were accused of betraying unfair.While security forces were interested in the truth a little, so the recognition of those who came to the attention of this article, just beaten out.This says a lot of evidence of that time.Those who served his sentence, has long been under surveillance.They were forbidden to seek employment, receive pensions, apartments, they were limited in the opportunities that had an ordinary Soviet citizen.
Article 58 in the time of Stalin's most marketable document that repress civil and military.However, during the Khrushchev it was organized by a special commission, which investigated these crimes.Many of the wrongfully convicted were rehabilitated, unfortunately, posthumously.Those who survived returned to former rights and privileges.
Every state must protect its territorial integrity and constitutional rights.Article 58 of the USSR was precisely such a guarantee of protection.Of course, now such harsh penalties can be regarded as a flagrant violation of human rights, but at the time the article 58 seemed really appropriate and just punishment given to those who plotted the crime against Soviet rule.
