Anti-Soviet agitation

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Anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda (ASA) (Антисоветская агитация и пропаганда (АСА)) was a criminal offence in Soviet Union. The term was interchangeably used with counterrevolutionary agitation. The latter one was in use after the Russian Revolution and was gradually phased out by the end of 1930s in favor of the former one.

According to article article 58.10 of RSFSR Penal Code that acted during the period of Stalinism, "propaganda and agitation that called to overturn or undermining of the Soviet power" was punishable with at least 6 months of imprisonment and up to the death sentence in the periods of war or unrest.

Since 1958 the RSFSR Penal Code was significantly revised. Its language was changed to make it closer to Western legal norms. Article 58.10 was implemented by a separate Article 70, Anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda.

This article was the most common tool in fighting Soviet dissidents until the appearance of the even more lax Article 190.1, Dissemination of knowingly false fabrications that defame the Soviet state and social system (1967).

Any critique of the Soviet government or events in the Soviet Union was easily classified as ASA. Dissemination of any information which was not officially recognized was classified as "dissemination of falsehood".