Особенности уголовной ответственности женщин в законодательстве Древней Руси

Abstract

The article investigates the features of appointment and execution of criminal penalties against women in the legislation of Ancient Rus on the example of the provisions of Russkaya Prostrannaya Pravda (“Russian Extensive Truth”), the Charter of Prince Yaroslav and other historical sources. We should note that punishments and other measures of a criminal-legal nature applied to women during the formation of the state in Rus differ in a number of specific features and characteristics. In particular, during this period, a number of crimes committed only by women were highlighted: crimes against the church (magic), morality (fornication, adultery), murder of the child by his/her mother (“child murder”), abortion, etc. The criminal sanctions applied to the criminals were characterized by severity and cruelty. In some cases, the woman was held liable together with her husband for the crime he had committed. In general, the criminal legislation of the period of Ancient Rus did not differentiate the criminal liability of women.