Report No. 29
Economic Crimes in Soviet Russia
27. Economic Crimes in Soviet Russia.-Mal-practices in connection with business, profession and office, thus, seem to have received special treatment in England1 and in the United States of America2. On the other hand, in Soviet Russia, the subject of economic crimes has received special consideration3.
1. Paras. 14 to 18, supra.
2. Paras. 19 to 25, supra.
3. Paras. 28 to 33, infra.
28. Many acts which would not be criminal in other countries are regarded as crimes in Soviet Russia. The subject of "economic crimes" has received a most detailed attention in Soviet Russia and in other countries of Eastern Europe. Criminal law is viewed as political weapon and as an instrument of policy1.
Apart from "counter-revolutionary crimes2", (which are of a political nature), acts and types of behaviour like inefficient management, poor work, neglect of duties by an employee, non-performance of contracts and inefficient use of one's property, are penalised. Provisions as to economic crimes have existed for the last 40 years, and recent legislation increasing the penalty for such offences in certain cases and even imposing the death penalty3, would appear merely to carry on the policy reflected in the earlier provisions.
1. Gsovski and Grzybowski, Government, Law and Courts in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, (1960) Vol. 2, p. 937. (This will be hereafter referred to as "G.G. Government, etc., in the Soviet Union").
2. See G & G, Government, etc., in the Soviet Union, pp. 947 and 949.
3. See note "Economic Crimes in the Soviet Union", Journal of the International Commission of Jurists, (December, 1964), Vol. 5, No. 1, p. 3 (6 and 10).
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