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War on Treason and Espionage: Is Modern Russia Different from the USSR?
Studies show that during the war and after the war, the frequency of crimes is increasing. And in a period that can be described as "unstable" – which may imply, for example, a weakening economy or a cold war – there is often a surge in proceedings and arrests on charges of espionage and other actions that undermine the security of the state.
The Criminal Code of each country ensures punishment for crimes against the government, for treason, and activities aimed at challenging the existing political system. Punishment, as a rule, prescribes either imprisonment from several years to life, or the death penalty. Particularly interesting for investigation is the number of people convicted of such violations, or rather the tendency of change of their total number. Studies show that during the war and after the war, the frequency of crimes is increasing. And in a period that can be described as "unstable" – which may imply, for example, a weakening economy or a cold war – there is often a surge in proceedings and arrests on charges of espionage and other actions that undermine the security of the state.
In a period from 2010 to 2020, the number of people convicted of crimes against state in the Russian Federation increased by about 5 times: from 9541 to 51369 people. In 2021, their number rose to 54,139 people, and in 2022 – to 58,667 people; almost the same number of crimes were recorded against the family and minors (50,546), against life and health (60,279), and against traffic safety and operation of transport (64,101).
For comparison, the accusation of actions against the state in Soviet times existed under the name "counter-revolutionary crime". Article 58-1 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR describes it as "... any action aimed at overthrowing, undermining or weakening the power of the workers' and peasants' Soviets and ... the governments of the USSR, Union and autonomous republics, or to undermine or weaken the external security of the USSR ... any actions that damage the military might of the USSR, its state independence or inviolability of its territory; espionage on the side of the enemy, escape or migration abroad."
In a period from 2010 to 2020, the number of people convicted of crimes against state in the Russian Federation increased by about 5 times: from 9541 to 51369 people. In 2021, their number rose to 54,139 people, and in 2022 – to 58,667 people; almost the same number of crimes were recorded against the family and minors (50,546), against life and health (60,279), and against traffic safety and operation of transport (64,101).
For comparison, the accusation of actions against the state in Soviet times existed under the name "counter-revolutionary crime". Article 58-1 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR describes it as "... any action aimed at overthrowing, undermining or weakening the power of the workers' and peasants' Soviets and ... the governments of the USSR, Union and autonomous republics, or to undermine or weaken the external security of the USSR ... any actions that damage the military might of the USSR, its state independence or inviolability of its territory; espionage on the side of the enemy, escape or migration abroad."
The punishment ranged from a minimum term of 6 months in prison for, for example, possession of propaganda literature or failure to report a certainly known, planned or committed counter-revolutionary crime, to execution with confiscation of property for treason
(the rest of the family members in that case were sentenced to imprisonment or expulsion to Siberia for a minimum of 5 years).
(the rest of the family members in that case were sentenced to imprisonment or expulsion to Siberia for a minimum of 5 years).
The number of convicts fluctuated greatly. According to available data for 1937-1956, the peak in the number of sentences occurred in 1938 – 45,410 people. By 1940, statistics had almost dropped twice to 21,795 people, but in the following 1941 it rose again to 44,440 people. At the same time, by the end of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) and World War II, the number of people convicted of counter-revolutionary crimes did not exceed 9 thousand people per year. Then there was the last spike in charges in 1946 (12,932), and by 1956 the number of convictions had dropped to 307.
Note: The Bridge Research Network can assist with academic and journalistic research on the USSR and post-USSR countries through data mining and analysis. Please contact us at info@thebridge.network for more details.
These statistics show that in the years leading up to a full-scale war, the government becomes extremely sensitive to security threats and cases of treason. In addition, the numbers prove that, contrary to the dubious narrative of the Russian Federation about a "special military operation," the country is at war, and the situation is only escalating.
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