June 8: The article on "treason" and the emergence of the ChSIR
On June 8, 1934, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR amended the "Regulations on State Crimes." The infamous Article 58—"Counterrevolutionary Crimes"—was supplemented by four new articles: 58-1a through 58-1g. They introduced punishment for "treason" and for "failure to report" its preparation. At the same time, the concept of "family member of a traitor to the homeland"—under which the guilt of one person could lead to the punishment of his entire family—was established in Soviet law.
Four new articles of the 58th
1.1 Treason, i.e. actions committed by citizens of the USSR to the detriment of the military power of the USSR, its state independence, or the inviolability of its territory, such as: espionage, disclosure of military or state secrets, defection to the enemy, flight or flight abroad, is punishable by the highest measure of criminal punishment - execution with confiscation of all property, and under mitigating circumstances - imprisonment for a term of 10 years with confiscation of all property.
1.2 The same crimes committed by military personnel are punishable by the highest measure of criminal punishment - execution with confiscation of all property.
1.3 In the event of a military serviceman escaping or flying abroad, adult members of his family, if they in any way contributed to the planned or committed treason, or at least knew about it but did not report it to the authorities, are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 5 to 10 years with confiscation of all property.
The remaining adult members of the traitor's family who lived with him or were dependent on him at the time the crime was committed are subject to deprivation of voting rights and exile to remote areas of Siberia for 5 years.
1.4 Failure of a military service member to report a planned or committed act of treason shall entail imprisonment for 10 years <…>
Chairman of the CEC of the USSR, M. Kalinin
"Family members of a traitor to the homeland"
The legal definition of "family members of a traitor" (CHSIR) immediately appeared. Three years later, the Politburo further regulated the imprisonment of the wives of "traitors to the motherland" and party oppositionists in the camps.
To Comrade Yezhov: Question from the NKVD
<…> 3. Establish from now on a procedure according to which all wives of exposed traitors to the motherland, right-wing Trotskyist spies, are subject to imprisonment in camps for no less than 5-8 years.
- All remaining orphans under the age of 15 years after conviction shall be taken into state care, and as for children over the age of 15 years, the issue shall be decided individually <…> (July 5, 1937)
According to some estimates, around 18 women were subjected to repression under this document, and more than 25 children were removed from their families.
Children of enemies of the people
There are no dishes, so they eat from ladles. There's one cup for 140 people, and no spoons, so they have to take turns eating with their hands. There's no lighting; there's one lamp for the entire orphanage, but it doesn't have kerosene (from reports from the management of Ural orphanages, 1930s).
The orphanage resembled a prison. They taught us literacy in the orphanage. The teachers often beat us. Complaining or resisting was forbidden, as we were the children of enemies of the people. They forced us to study Stalin's biography. Stalin's portraits hung on the walls everywhere... You couldn't say a word, neighbors would inform on each other, and they could punish you. (Alevtina Perevedentseva, child-ChSIR)
My daughter died... When I asked about the cause of death, the doctor at the hospital told me: "...She took the separation from her parents extremely hard. She didn't eat. She saved some for you. She kept asking: 'Where is Mom? Was there a letter from her? And where is Dad?' She died quietly. She only cried piteously: 'Mom, Mom...'" (Maria Sandratskaya, sentenced to 8 years as a criminal offender)
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, by 1953, approximately 3,8 million people had been convicted in the USSR for "counterrevolutionary crimes," which included "treason." Nearly 643 were executed.
