The organs of special justice of the Soviet State as a tool for the protection of the regime

The modern scientific literature does not raise the question of special justice in the USSR. However, it is possible to single out several levels in the mechanism of protection of the political regime in the USSR. The first can be attributed extrajudicial bodies (Cheka / GPU / OGPU / NKVD / NKGB / MGB / KGB). To the second - special judicial authorities (various tribunals, courts on railway and water transport, special colleges of regional and supreme courts and special camp courts). The purpose of the article is to highlight the differences between the bodies of special justice in comparison with the organs of general justice. The research is based on unpublished archival sources, which made it possible to trace the number of special courts, determine the policy pursued by state authorities in relation to them. The published sources (normative and legal acts) made it possible to determine the structure, composition, competence, peculiarities of the functioning of special justice bodies, in comparison with the organs of general justice. In the development of special justice, there are several stages. The first - 1917-1923 years. At this stage, a chaotic formation of special judiciary bodies to combat counter-revolutionary and some criminal offenses in the field, in the army and in transport is observed. The state has made many attempts to restore order in this area. But the situation was aggravated by frequent changes in the regulatory framework. Probably during the Civil War, the staff of the tribunals were not familiar with the changes in legislation. The second stage - 1924-1929 years. During this phase, there was a decrease in the number of special vessels, limiting their competence. Under the new economic policy, these bodies were not in demand. The third period was 1930-1941 - period of "second birth" of special justice. In the course of the policy of collectivization and industrialization, the bodies of justice in transport and special colleges were formed at the regional courts and supreme courts of the autonomous republics to deal with cases that were especially dangerous for the state. The fourth period was 1941-1945 - stage of the "heyday" of special justice. At this time, these bodies had acquired almost unlimited powers. The fifth period was the decline and liquidation of special judicial bodies (1946-1957). After the Great Patriotic War, the number of these organs was reduced. The absence of purges after Stalin's death left them without work. The main features of the special judicial authorities were: autonomous situation, lack of clearly defined competence, interference in their work by state security bodies, special educational institutions and special law, higher status of these bodies and their employees; the existence of a network of bodies that ensure their activities, dependence on a particular political situation.

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