07 June 2004 08:17
New reasons for Russia to ratify protocol on death penalty
MOSCOW. June 7 (Interfax) - Alexander Yakovenko, an official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said
that new reasons have arisen for Russia to ratify the protocol on abolishing the death penalty.
He said that Russia will be obliged to abolish the death penalty
when it joins the Council of Europe and a moratorium on the death
penalty has been in effect in Russia since 1996. The protocol on
"The parliamentary elections in late 2003 have created a situation that is in many ways new to Russia. New
conditions arose that favor starting the process to ratify protocol #6 [of the European human rights convention on the
abolishment of the death penalty]," Yakovenko said on Monday.
abolishing the death penalty was sent to the State Duma for ratification in 1999.
"Both political and social reasons are known for why this procedure has not been completed yet," Yakovenko
said.
For details, see Interfax's Diplomatic Panorama for June 7. [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG POL DIP LAW] aa aw
[Interfax] |
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