The Soviet Constitution

Out of sheer curiosity I took a brief look at the Soviet Constitution.

It is an astonishing, and dishonest, document to say the very least. Ninety percent of it is methods of administration and some surprising little absurdities, but the guaranteed rights of Soviet Citizens was a bit of an eyeful, and was by far the most intersting part.

Here's a real beauty from their equivalent of the Bill of the Rights. (or Chapter Seven Rights in their terms.)

Article 54. Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed inviolability of the person. No one may be arrested except by a court decision or on the warrant of a procurator.

Article 55. Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed inviolability of the home. No one may, without lawful grounds, enter a home against the will of those residing in it.

Article 56. The privacy of citizens, and of their correspondence, telephone conversations, and telegraphic communications is protected by law.

Article 57. Respect for the individual and protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens are the duty of all state bodies, public organisations, and officials.

Citizens of the USSR have the right to protection by the courts against encroachments on their honour and reputation, life and health, and personal freedom and property.

Article 58. Citizens of the USSR have the right to lodge a complaint against the actions of officials, state bodies and public bodies. Complaints shall be examined according to the procedure and within the time-limit established by law.

Actions by officials that contravene the law or exceed their powers, and infringe the rights of citizens, may be appealed against in a court in the manner prescribed by law.

Citizens of the USSR have the right to compensation for damage resulting from unlawful actions by state organisations and public organisations, or by officials in the performance of their duties.

Article 59. Citizens' exercise of their rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of their duties and obligations.

Citizens of the USSR are obliged to observe the Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws, comply with the standards of socialist conduct, and uphold the honour and dignity of Soviet citizenship.

Article 59 appears to be an escape clause to justify the state ignoring all those other rights. These absolutely essential rights seem to have been totally ignored by the authorities of the old Soviet government. (Numerous examples could be cited but it's virtually common knowledge, except amongst those who believe that only America can be wrong.)

Actually it's full of high sounding stuff that in reality was never observed, and it is full of these escape clauses that enable the government to do whatever it deemed fit.

Or their "Freedom of Speech and the Press" Take special note of what is I have marked in Green.

Article 50. In accordance with the interests of the people and in order to strengthen and develop the socialist system, citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly, meetings, street processions and demonstrations.

Exercise of these political freedoms is ensured by putting public buildings, streets and squares at the disposal of the working people and their organisations, by broad dissemination of information, and by the opportunity to use the press, television, and radio.

I think it comes down to this article

Article 39. Citizens of the USSR enjoy in full the social, economic, political and personal rights and freedoms proclaimed and guaranteed by the Constitution of the USSR and by Soviet laws. The socialist system ensures enlargement of the rights and freedoms of citizens and continuous improvement of their living standards as social, economic, and cultural development programmes are fulfilled.

Enjoyment by citizens of their rights and freedoms must not be to the detriment of the interests of society or the state, or infringe the rights of other citizens.


I can't help but notice that it includes the "right" to things like education, healthcare, a job, the right to have museums (no kidding! Article 46!) The rights of the accused on the other hand are not well defined.

A lot of what they wrote sounded good on paper, but a bill of rights is only as good as the people who have power are determined to let it be. The fact that so many of the articles included the escape clause "in the interest of Communism" or words to that effect frequently nullified the meaning of the rest of the clause. You were free to speak so long as what you said was in the "interest of Communism". Sounds like Political Correctness was written right into that Constitution.