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The Soviet Constitution: myth and reality - Richard Schifter's address before the American Bar Association in San Francisco, August 10, 1987 - transcript
US Department of State Bulletin, Oct, 1987
Though the Soviet leadership does not appear to have any present intention of abandoning the basic precepts on which its system of government rests, that does not mean that no change will ever occur. Having gotten in recent months at least a whiff of greater freedom, some Soviet citizens might be willing to learn how other societies go about the task of assuring respect for individual rights. And who would be better equipped to talk to them about this subject than those whose professional responsibility it is in a democratic country to see that the rights of the individual are protected?
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It is for that reason that I want to end my remarks with an appeal to you. If the ABA/Association of Soviet Lawyers agreement is renewed, I sincerely hope that American participants will try to learn how the Soviet system works, will learn to understand the facade which the Soviet Constitution presents, a facade behind which any Politburo directive can supersede any alleged constitutional guarantee. I hope that American participants will not be shy about explaining to the Soviet lawyers they meet the difference between a constitution which a country's political leadership can manipulate at will and one which with the help of an independent judiciary can, indeed, shield the individual citizen against oppressive government. In responding to you, a good many of your interlocutors will parrot the party line, but deep down they will understand what you are talking about.
COPYRIGHT 1987 U.S. Government Printing Office
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
