Soviet Laws

RSFSR Criminal Code (1960)

Criminal Code of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic

The Chronicle frequently refers to specific articles of Soviet law. Those mentioned are most often found in the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (“Russia” for short).

Soviet Laws

(Their equivalent in the Criminal Codes of the other 14 Union Republics usually had a different numeration, cf. Article 70.)

Some Articles were added later, e.g. 190 in 1966 (Cf. 58 in 1926). Others were subsequently amended or modified, e.g., 209 in 1975 and 1977 (CCE 47.17 [1]).

1. Fundamentals of criminal legislation (1-63)
2. Grave, “anti-State” crimes (64-73)
3. Crimes of varying severity (74-249)

Article Number; Summary of subject; example from “Chronicle” [¹]

1. Fundamentals of criminal legislation (1-63)

15 – Responsibility for preparing, and attempting, to commit a crime (17.6-1, “hijackers” trial).

17 – Complicity in a crime (20.1, Aeroplane Affair)

37 – Assignment of punishment lighter than that provided by law (34.21 [5], Propiska regulations)

38 – Extenuating circumstances (14.7, Ryzan trial).

39 – Aggravating circumstances (e.g. crime committed as part of a group) (14.7, Ryazan trial).

40 – Assigning punishment when several crimes have been committed (16.5, Selivonchik and Vasilyev)

43 – Imposition of a penalty less severe than that prescribed by law, mitigating circumstances (40.2, Tverdokhlebov)

58 – The application of compulsory measures of a medical character to mentally ill people (8.7, “Mentally ill” dissenters)

59 — Placement in a psychiatric hospital.

60 — Ordering, changing and discontinuing the application of compulsory measures of a medical character to mentally ill people.

2. Grave, “anti-State” crimes (64-73)

64 – Betrayal of the Motherland [Treason]

64 (a) … actions deliberately committed by a citizen of the USSR to the detriment of its national independence, territorial integrity and military might… (17.6-1, “hijackers” trial).
64 (?) “flight abroad or refusal to return to the USSR from abroad” (4.4, 14 prisoners; and see three lists of detainees, prisoners and exiles).

66 – Terrorism (33.63 [122]: Yusup Tachiev and section 3.9)

68 – Sabotage or subversive activity (56.29, Moscow Metro explosions trial)

69 – “Promotion of war”

70 – ANTI-SOVIET AGITATION AND PROPAGANDA.

72 – Organisational activity directed towards the committing of especially dangerous State crimes, and equally membership of an anti-Soviet organisation (13.3, Gorky trial).

*

3. Crimes of varying severity (74-249)

80 – Evasion of military service (37.3, Roitburd, Malkin et al.)

81 – Refusal to obey a mobilization draft order (10.3, Ryzhik)

83 – Illegally leaving or entering the USSR (4.4).

88 – Violation of the laws governing currency transactions (e.g. ).

93-1 – Theft of State or public property on an especially large scale (17.6-1, “hijackers” trial).

98 – Deliberate destruction of, or damage to, State or public property (“Case 62”, 44.2 Volkov and Rybakov)

102 – Premeditated murder (16.5, Silivonchik and Vasilyev).

108 – Infringement of “passport” (i.e. identity document) regulations (8.9, Marchenko).

130 (pt. 2) – Libel in a printed work or a work duplicated by some other means, and equally slander committed by a person previously convicted of slander (4.6, Potapenko).

142 – Violation of laws governing separation of Church from State & School from Church (35.3, Georgy Vins)

143 – Incitement to violate the laws governing the separation of Church from State and school from Church (15.5, Levitin-Krasnov).

153 – Private entrepreneurial activity (48.9, Anatoly Ivanov)

154 – Speculation (e.g. ).

162 – Engaging in a forbidden means of livelihood (53.7, Makeyeva)

173 – Accepting a bribe.

180 (pt. 2) – Giving deliberately false information about the commission of an especially dangerous State crime or other serious crime, or involving the fabrication of evidence, or for mercenary reasons.

182 — Refusal to testify (29.11, Sokirko & 54.22 Tsurkova)

186 — Flight from a place of exile (45.13, Okulova-Voznesenskaya; Yury I. Fyodorov)

189 — Concealing a crime (20.1, Butman & five others).

190 (introduced in 1966), ARTICLE 190:

Article 190-1 – Spreading of deliberate fabrications, verbal or otherwise, slandering the Soviet political and social system.
Article 190-2 – Violation of the State Emblem or Flag (14.5, Liepin and Misudovich).
Article 190-3 – Group activities disturbing public order (4.1).
Subject of 22 January 1967 demonstration in Moscow on Pushkin Square.

191 — Resistance to a public official in the performance of his duties, involving violence or the threat of violence (15.1, Gorbanevskaya)

193 — Threat or force in r espect of […] a citizen carrying out his public duty (56.11, Shchipkova)

196, pt.1 – Forgery of documents (1.1, Dobrovolsky); The forgery, manufacture or selling of forged documents, stamps, seals or blank forms (56.11, Popkov and Burtsev)

198-1 – Evasion of a summons for training or medical examination, or of military registration, by a person liable for military service (CCE 26.3 [2], Nashpits)

198-2 – Breaking the rules of surveillance (35.2, Anatoly Marchenko).

206 (pt. 2) – Malicious hooliganism (14.6 & 54.12, Yermolayev and Polyakov; 50.8-4, Maria Slepak)

209 (pt. 1) – Leading a parasitic way of life for a prolonged period (50.8-5, Begun; and see CCE 37.15, 1975)

211 – Infringement of regulations on traffic safety and use of transport by persons driving a means of transport (57.5, Fefyolov).

218 (pt. 1) – The unauthorised bearing, possession, manufacture or sale of fire-arms, ammunition or explosives (49.1, Kirill Podrabinek)

227 – Infringement of the person and rights of citizens under the guise of performing religious rites (58.17, Goretoi)

247 – Desertion from a military unit.

249 – Refusing to serve in the army (41.2-4, Evangelical Christians & Baptists).

♦

Expanded from a list published by AI editors and translators in Chronicle No 18. See H.J. Berman (ed.), Soviet Criminal Law and Procedure, Oxford, 1966, for full texts.