V. I.   Lenin

Liability for Unfounded Accusations

Draft Resolution for the C.C., R.S.D.L.P.(B.)^[1]

Written: November 29 (December 12), 1917
Published: First published in 1945 in Lenin Miscellany XXXV. Printed from the manuscript.
Source: Lenin Collected Works, 1st English Edition, Progress Publishers, 1965, Moscow, Volume 42, pages 41^c-42^a.
Translated: Yuri Sdobnikov
Transcription\Markup: D. Walters
Public Domain: Lenin Internet Archive (2003). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source.
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The C.C. establishes the principle:

that in all squabbles and personal accusations, the person who makes such accusations without bringing specific charges before a court shall be considered a slanderer;

that those who consider themselves affected by such accusations shall be invited to take legal action.

Notes

[1] This draft was written by Lenin following an anonymous accu- sation to the effect that Y. S. Hanecki had been in the employ of a German commercial firm. For Lenin’s letter on this question to the C.C. of the R.S.D.L.P.(B.) see Collected Works, Fifth Russian Edition, Vol. 50, pp. 14-16