Savchenko, D.A. Criminal policy of the Government of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov in the sphere of guarantees of domestic security of the state

Abstract: The article concerns the main directions and criminal law means of implementation of the policy of the Government of the Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov in the sphere of domestic security of the state (first half of XVII century). The author analyzes the texts of the pledge of allegiance to the Tsar and materials on “Sovereign’s Cases”. Special attention is paid to the practice of revealing, interception and punishment of “undue speaking”. It is noted that the criminal policy of the Government of the Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov in the sphere of guarantees of domestic security was characterized by the active combination of punitive and prophylactic measures. It was aimed at protection of the fundamentals of the political order and existing power institutions from encroachments upon the political rights of a new Tsar (“wishing to have another Sovereign”, “Searching for Sovereign”) fighting “theft and treason”, as well as protection of “health of the Sovereign”. The practice of fighting the “thieving hordes” was characterized by grave repressions to the leaders and pardon from responsibility for the common participants. After the liquidation of the largest internal anti-governmental armed formations the main efforts were aimed against false royalty, elements of “wishing to have another Sovereign” as expressed by “undue speaking”. In order to characterize some “undue speaking” the new term “humiliation of the royal greatness” appears starting in 1620s. The typical punishment for the “undue speaking” involved physical punishments “beating with sticks” or “public whipping”.

Keywords: