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Soviet Union [USSR] DOMESTIC SECURITY AND THE COMMITTEE FOR STATE SECURITY
The KGB had a variety of domestic security functions. It was
empowered by law to arrest and investigate individuals for certain
types of political and economic crimes. It was also responsible for
censorship, propaganda, and the protection of state and military
secrets.
Legal Prerogatives
In carrying out its task of ensuring state security, the KGB
was empowered by law to uncover and investigate certain political
crimes set forth in the Russian Republic's Code of Criminal
Procedure and the criminal codes of other republics. According to
the Russian Republic's Code of Criminal Procedure, which came into
force in 1960 and has been revised several times since then, the
KGB had the authority, together with the Procuracy, to investigate
the political crimes of treason, espionage, terrorism, sabotage,
anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda, divulgence of state secrets,
smuggling, illegal exit abroad, and illegal entry into the Soviet
Union. In addition, the KGB was empowered, along with the Procuracy
and the MVD, to investigate the following economic crimes: stealing
of state property by appropriation or embezzlement or by abuse of
official position and stealing of state property or
socialist property (see Glossary) on an especially large scale.
In carrying out arrests and investigations for these crimes,
the KGB was subject to specific rules that were set forth in the
Code of Criminal Procedure. The Procuracy was charged with ensuring
that these rules were observed. In practice, the Procuracy had
little authority over the KGB, and the latter was permitted to
circumvent the regulations whenever politically expedient. In 1988
closing some of these loopholes was discussed, and legal experts
called for a greater role for the Procuracy in protecting Soviet
citizens from abuse by the investigatory organs. As of May 1989,
however, few concrete changes had been publicized.
It is important to note that the KGB frequently enlisted the
MVD and the Procuracy to instigate proceedings against political
nonconformists on charges that did not fall under the KGB's
purview. Dissidents were often charged for defaming the Soviet
state and violating public order. Sometimes the KGB arranged to
have them charged for ordinary crimes, such as hooliganism or drug
abuse.
Data as of May 1989
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