[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

March 30




RUSSIA:

No Way to Abolish Capital Punishment


For PACE President Ren van der Linden, one of the top concerns in Russia
is to urge the countrys authorities to abolish death penalty. Russia hasnt
sealed the respective sixth protocol to the European Convention on Human
Rights, although the death penalty moratorium is in force in the country
from 1996.

To-date, 97 states have abolished death penalty either completely or at
least for all crimes but for committed in time of the war; 25 states have
retained the capital punishment provision in the laws but dont apply it in
practice; 74 states have maintained the capital punishment right, though
not all of them use it.

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE),
Rene van der Linden arrived in Moscow March 27 to discuss with authorities
the priorities of the next chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe, which Russia will hold from May to November 2006.
One of the highlights of the tour is the death penalty abolishment. It
appears the European leaders have resumed pressurizing Russia in this
issue.

Most Russians, however, favor the capital punishment. The 74 % polled by
Public Opinion Foundation in February 2006 said yes when asked about
admissibility of the death penalty (vs. 79 % 5 years ago). Moreover, 63 %
of respondents viewed the death penalty moratorium as a mistake and only 4
% backed up the complete abolishment of capital punishment in Russia.

(source: Kommersant)