MOSCOW, December 22. /Corr. Tatiana Vinogradova/. Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Olga Golodets, who oversees social bloc, opposes the death penalty even for crimes committed against children, in particular, for rape and murder of minors.
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The Chairman of the Investigative Committee called for the death penalty
“Child abuse is absolutely unacceptable, and society should not allow this. However, the death penalty is still a feudalism, and I hope that we have enough intelligence to prevent and protect children in other ways, to create absolute protection for our children,” said Golodets.
The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Bastrykin on December 9 called for the death penalty, noting that his Agency is subject to applicable Russian laws. In Izhevsk the event memory 13-year-old boy, who died at the hands of a rapist and murderer, he stated that personally, “first of all, as a man”, supports the death penalty. “I’m not afraid of criticism when you start to criticize me or anyone who expresses such thoughts. No need to dissemble. Evil must be punished. Took someone else’s life, especially the life of a child – to pay their”, – said Bastrykin.
In turn, the Commissioner for children’s rights in Russia Pavel Astakhov said that for the murder of the child it is necessary to apply the maximum possible penalty – life imprisonment.
The abolition of the death penalty in Russia. Background
After joining in February 1996 to the Council of Europe Russia undertook to cease executions and adopt a law on the abolition of capital punishment. In may 1996 signed a presidential decree on the gradual reduction in the use of the death penalty and in August of the same year imposed a moratorium on executions.
From 1 January 1997, entered into force the new criminal code of the Russian Federation, in which the death penalty as an exceptional measure of punishment was established only for especially grave crimes encroaching on life. Such crimes are murder (when there are aggravating circumstances); an encroachment on life state or the public figure; encroachment on the life of a person administering justice or preliminary investigations; attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer; genocide. In April 1997, Russia signed Protocol 6 to the European Convention for the protection of human rights, which provides for the complete abolition of the death penalty.
2 February 1999 the constitutional court introduced a moratorium on the death penalty until the introduction throughout the country of trial by jury. 19 November 2009 the constitutional court extended the moratorium until the ratification of the Russian Federation of Protocol 6 to the European Convention for the protection of human rights.
