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Boris Gryzlov, Chairman of the State Duma, told reporters on Tuesday that the Duma would toughen the punishment for terrorists, perhaps up to the death penalty. He said the committees of the State Duma would review Russian laws and toughen punishment for terrorist-related crimes. Some of his colleagues supported this idea.
Vladimir Ketrenko, Deputy Chairman of the United Russia faction, does not rule out that the Duma could consider the introduction of the death penalty for terrorist crimes. In his opinion, after jury courts are established in all regions across Russia, they will be authorized to deliver death sentences.
Sources in the Duma told the Izvestia newspaper that Mr. Gryzlov and other members of the United Russia party were demonstrating the unity of the party and its voters in this way, responding to the public appeal to “kill the beasts”. However, other members of United Russia - Vladimir Vasikyev, the former head of the Duma Security Committee, and ex-Justice Minister Pavel Krasheninnikov - urged their fellow party members not to haste.
In Mr. Vasilyev’s opinion, the issue of capital punishment “requires careful examination”, and it should not surface on every occasion. He promised to discuss in the committee “whether the death penalty would settle existing problems”. For his part, Mr. Krasheninnikov does not think that capital punishment will help stop terror. “The death penalty does not affect the level of crime,” he said. “A life term would be a more serious threat to terrorists,” the former Justice Minister believes.
He stressed that Russia should ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at the abolition of the death penalty. Otherwise Russia will never establish closer ties with Europe. As for terrorist attacks, it is necessary to prevent them and react to them quickly. A ‘stick’ for terrorists would be an amendment to Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code, introducing the death penalty for terrorist crimes.
The Russian Courier newspaper says such statements by parliamentary leaders should have been expected following a terrorist attack on a metro train last Friday. Russia imposed a moratorium on the death penalty, which will apply until jury courts are established in all regions of the Russian Federation. For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said he was against the lifting of the moratorium.
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RUSSIA IN FACTS
