Mental Agitation

or temporary insanity, in criminal law, one of the extenuating circumstances in criminal responsibility. According to Soviet law, mental agitation is an extenuating circumstance only if it was provoked by the unlawful actions of the victim. For example, the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (arts. 104, 110) determines a lesser responsibility for an intentional homicide or intentional severe or less severe bodily harm perpetrated while in a state of strong mental agitation provoked by force or serious insult on the part of the victim or other unlawful actions of the victim, if such actions could result in grave consequences for the guilty person or those close to him.