State secrets are nothing other than information in the field of foreign policy, intelligence, operational investigative, economic, military activities of the state, the dissemination of which may harm the security of the country. Its disclosure is unacceptable. The Law on State Secrets provides for serious legal liability for the dissemination of information included in its composition.
In general, information relating to state secrets can be divided into several categories. These categories are:
- economics and foreign policy;
- military;
- operational investigative, counterintelligence, intelligence activities;
- technology, science, economics.
The division also occurs on the basis of the degree of secrecy of information. The degree is determined depending on what damage may be caused to the country if state secrets are disclosed. There are three degrees of danger. Vultures correspond to them:
- top secret;
- of particular importance;
- secretly.
There is information not subject to classification. They include information:
- on the state of sanitation, culture, demography, health, crime, ecology;
- about the state of health of the highest officials of the country;
- on foreign exchange reserves, as well as on gold reserves;
- on the facts of violation of the freedoms and rights of people and citizens;
- about disasters, natural disasters and other phenomena that threaten people's lives;
- about privileges, social payments and guarantees provided by the state to certain groups of persons;
- on violation of laws by state authorities, as well as their officials.
Admission to state secrets can be obtained in a certain order. Its forms: first, second, and also third. The first form includes information of special importance, the second - classified information, the third - absolutely secret.
Access to the highest degree of secrecy - access to all its other levels. It must be issued at the place of service by persons or bodies authorized for this. As a rule, the design is preceded by a series of special checks. First of all, candidates for admission are asked to fill out questionnaires. Important points:
- stay abroad;
- relatives in other countries;
- criminal record;
- military service;
- criminal record of close relatives.
Most often, admission cannot be obtained due to:
- medical contraindications to a particular job;
- a criminal record (not only of his own, but also of relatives);
- providing false information;
- inappropriate level of intelligence;
- failure to pass a physical fitness test.
State secrets are protected by law, and its disclosure is punishable seriously. The state is interested in its non-disclosure, which means it is ready to apply the most stringent measures to violators of the law. The main responsibility is criminal. In general, not only criminal, but also civil law, and administrative, and disciplinary liability are possible .
If state secrets are disclosed, a person can be accused of high treason. In this case, imprisonment of up to twenty years is possible. Moreover, a large fine is imposed on him (up to five hundred thousand). A similar sentence will be imposed for espionage. The disclosure of civil secrets not related to either crime may be the reason for a seven-year sentence. Loss of documents containing state secrets may result in imprisonment for three years.
Divulging classified information is a serious crime. A person prosecuted for disclosing secrets of state significance is unlikely to be able to get a responsible job after serving his sentence. Career will be spoiled very much.