Death Penalty News

After the deadly terrorist attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall, some Russian politicians are debating trying the suspects to Belarus, which still has death penalty. But it's not that simple. The terror attack on Moscow's Crocus City Hall has ignited debate about the reintroduction of the death sentence in Russia. Given that 140 people died and more than 500 were wounded at the concert hall on March 22, 2024, emotions are running high.

Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov (pictured with V. Putin) has demanded that the death penalty be reinstated in Russia for "traitors" and soldiers who retreat from battle in Ukraine. Solovyov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, made the remarks during his radio show Full Contact (Polny Contakt) on Thursday, shortly after Russia announced its withdrawal from the key Ukrainian city of Kherson. He floated bringing back the death penalty for those suspected of wartime sabotage, and for Russian soldiers who retreat in Ukraine. "I believe that we should reject the moratorium on the death penalty and introduce articles allowing the execution of traitors and their accomplices, terrorists and their accomplices, sponsors, and financiers, including shooting deserters who abandoned the combat order and betrayed their comrades," he said. In 1996, Russia imposed a moratorium on the death penalty pending its membership into the Council of Europe. Russia was suspende...

After the Council of Europe on Friday suspended Russia’s rights of representation, the country’s deputy chairman of the Security Council says this is a good opportunity to restore the death penalty for the most severe crimes. Capital punishment has not been allowed in Russia since then-President Boris Yeltsin in 1996 established a moratorium on the law, a ruling later confirmed by the country’s Constitutional Court in 1999. No member country of the Council of Europe can have the death penalty. On February 25, a day after Putin launched war on Ukraine, the Committee of Ministers in the Council of Europe decided to suspend Russia from its rights of representation, both in the Committee and in the Parliamentary Assembly. The decision has immediate effect and is made as a direct result of Russia’s armed attack on Ukraine. However, Russia is still a member of the Council of Europe and party to the relevant conventions, including the European Convention on Human Rights. For the former Prime ...