DIVORCE IN RUSSIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 September 1924, Page 13

DIVORCE IN RUSSIA.

TAKES FIVE MINUTES

AND COSTS SIX SHILLINGS.

Soviet Russia offers far more advantages to persons seeking' easy and quick divorces than perhaps any place in the world.

Linder a new decree, a divorce can. be had within five minutes at a cost of six shillings, provided both parties agree to tne dissolution of the marriage ties. If, however, one party objects to dissolution, the case , must be referred to the courts, which will decide the question on its merits.' Misconduct does not constitute 'a valid reason for the annulment of' marital ties, but desertion, religious superstition, excessive religious pietv mcompatability of temperament,- and divergence in political views are held to be sufficient causes. ’ . No' Russian may obtain a divorce and remarry more than three times within one year. In consequence of the flexibility- oL the Soviet civil code covering domestic: relations, divorces in the Moscow dis4.£ IC k.o incl^ by 40 per- cent during the hrst six months of 1924,' -as compared with _ 1923. In many cases the applicants for divorces were married""’ only from three days to three months. In other cases couples divorced had been married from four to 40 years. -Keugious superstition was : one of the most frequent causes giyen. in application for divorce.; ;■>. The ease with which a divorce,,can be had under the Bolshevist regime contrasts strikingly with the difficulties which beset ."those who sought separation during the days of the. Czar,; when divorce was almost impossible ohaccount of the opposition of the Church and the severity of the Imperial statutes. .. In those days it required, from three to six years to secure an annulmeht of a marriage.