Modern UK Speech Prosecutions Greatly Exceed the USSR Under Brezhnev. Annualized arrests under Soviet anti-speech articles vs. British internet speech prosecutions. 2,341 in one year (1,816 convicted). ~141 per year (3,234 over 23 yrs). USSR Articles 70 & 190-1 1962-1985 (annualized). UK Offence Code 19607 2022 (single year).