Revolutionary tribunal (Russia)
Encyclopedia
Revolutionary tribunals in Soviet Russia
were established soon after the October Revolution
by the Soviet "Decree of the Soviet of Peoples' Commissars Concerning the Courts No. 1" ("Декрет о суде № 1") of November 22 (N.S.
: December 5), 1917. The decree proclaimed that the workers' and peasants' revolutionary tribunal
s were established "for the purpose of the struggle against counter-revolutionary forces and defend the revolution, as well as to struggle against marauder
s, and profiteers, sabotage
and other abuses by merchant
s, industrialists, clerks and others". The term was borrowed from the Revolutionary Tribunal
of the French Revolution
.
When the Cheka
(Extraordinary Commission) was established in the next month, its functions included handing accused persons over to revtribunals.
Later the "Statute of Revolutionary Tribunals" of April 12, 1919 established the precedence of revtribunals over people's court
s and gave them unrestricted rights to set the measure of prosecution. On October 21, 1919 the Special Revolutionary Tribunal was established within the Cheka
to consider grave cases of profiteering, bribery
and abuse of office (должностные преступления). As the decree said, "in its considerations, the Special Revolutionary Tribunal follows the interests of the revolution and is not bound by and forms of legal proceedings."
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
were established soon after the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
by the Soviet "Decree of the Soviet of Peoples' Commissars Concerning the Courts No. 1" ("Декрет о суде № 1") of November 22 (N.S.
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
: December 5), 1917. The decree proclaimed that the workers' and peasants' revolutionary tribunal
Tribunal
A tribunal in the general sense is any person or institution with the authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title....
s were established "for the purpose of the struggle against counter-revolutionary forces and defend the revolution, as well as to struggle against marauder
Marauder
A marauder is a bandit, outlaw, raider or such like who moves about in roving fashion looking for plunder.Other uses of marauder, usually derived from the above include:in " Football"...
s, and profiteers, sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
and other abuses by merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s, industrialists, clerks and others". The term was borrowed from the Revolutionary Tribunal
Revolutionary Tribunal
The Revolutionary Tribunal was a court which was instituted in Paris by the Convention during the French Revolution for the trial of political offenders, and eventually became one of the most powerful engines of the Reign of Terror....
of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
When the Cheka
Cheka
Cheka was the first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created by a decree issued on December 20, 1917, by Vladimir Lenin and subsequently led by aristocrat-turned-communist Felix Dzerzhinsky...
(Extraordinary Commission) was established in the next month, its functions included handing accused persons over to revtribunals.
Later the "Statute of Revolutionary Tribunals" of April 12, 1919 established the precedence of revtribunals over people's court
People's court (Soviet Union)
People's court in the late Soviet Union is a court of first instance which handled the majority of civil and criminal offenses, as well as certain administrative law offenses....
s and gave them unrestricted rights to set the measure of prosecution. On October 21, 1919 the Special Revolutionary Tribunal was established within the Cheka
Cheka
Cheka was the first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created by a decree issued on December 20, 1917, by Vladimir Lenin and subsequently led by aristocrat-turned-communist Felix Dzerzhinsky...
to consider grave cases of profiteering, bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
and abuse of office (должностные преступления). As the decree said, "in its considerations, the Special Revolutionary Tribunal follows the interests of the revolution and is not bound by and forms of legal proceedings."