Russian MPs discuss lifting moratorium on death penalty

MOSCOW: Russian lawmakers called on Tuesday to lift the moratorium on the death penalty following last week’s attack on a concert hall.

Speaking at a plenary session of Russia’s lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma (Federal Assembly), its chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said all the necessary legislation exists and it is up to the Constitutional Court to decide.

“In our constitution and criminal legislation, no one has abolished the death penalty. There is a decision of the Constitutional Court, which postponed the imposition of such a sentence.

“Therefore, there is no need for any referendums. The decision of the Constitutional Court on this issue is enough,” he said.

“Of course, any decisions must be made with a cool head after calculating all the consequences.”

Volodin said that the questions appeared on the agenda of the State Duma’s plenary session at the request of heads of factions.

He said that the Constitutional Court adopted the decision to impose a moratorium on the death penalty in fulfilment of international obligations to the Council of Europe, noting that since Russia has left the organisation, there are no barriers to reneging on it.

Calls to lift the moratorium on the death penalty began after at least 139 people were killed and more than 180 were injured on March 22 when gunmen opened fire at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast.

The Investigative Committee said it detained 11 people, including four perpetrators, in the border region of Bryansk.

Moscow’s Basmanny District Court on Sunday charged the four perpetrators with terrorism and approved their pre-trial detentions until May 22. – Bernama