Pornography: Attitude of the Authorities and Society, Legal Opposition

The article analyses the attitude of power and society in Russia to pornography during almost a century-long period from 1917 up to the present. The regulations of the RSFSR and USSR, which impose prohibitions in the sphere of circulation of pornographic materials and items have been studied: decrees of Soviet power of November 24,1917 "On the Trial" and of March 7,1918 No.2 "On the Trial"; of 18 (31) December 1917 "On Civil Marriage, Children and on Records of Acts of State"; of 16 (29) December 1917 "Divorce"; Saratov Region Council of People's Commissars "On Abolition of Private Ownership by Women"; Vladimir Sovdep of January 1, 1918 "The Emancipation of Women." The author notes indifferent attitude of the Soviet Government to the spread of pornography in the country and cultivating a pornography by the society. He considers the theory of sexual revolution, common in Soviet Russia in the first quarter of the 20th century: "glass of water" and the "theory of a winged Eros". The article highlights the time of the creation of the "gender platform" of the revolutionary proletariat in the middle of the 20-ies of the last century in the form of "Twelve sexual commandments" and the ruling party's control over sexuality. The author conducts the analysis of criminal legislation of 1922, 1926 and 1960,1996 as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of the Circulation of Obscene Publications and Trade» 1923 and adopted after the CEC SNK USSR «On Responsibility for the Production, Storage and Marketing of Pornographic Publications, Pictures or Trafficking" under which the Criminal Code of the RSFSR 1926 was supplemented by the norm providing for liability for the production, distribution and advertising of pornographic writings, publications, images and other items, as well as trafficking and possession for the purpose of sale or distribution. With the adoption of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR 1960 the punishment for these acts was reduced. However, the disposition of the article, which established responsibility for trafficking in pornography, remained unchanged until the adoption of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

pornography, pornographic materials, pornographic items, trafficking in pornography, countering pornography, normative base, the criminal law

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