“A good opportunity to return the death penalty” - Dmitry Medvedev about the suspension of Russia's membership in the Council of Europe

Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Dmitry Medvedev said that the suspension of Russia's membership in the Council of Europe and PACE is a “good opportunity” to return the death penalty in the country. His words are given by RIA Novosti.

“A good opportunity to restore a number of important institutions to prevent particularly serious crimes in the country - such as the death penalty for dangerous criminals, which, incidentally, is actively used in the USA and China,” he said.

“A good reason to slap the door and forget about these meaningless almshouses forever,” he added.

On February 25, Russia's membership in the Council of Europe was suspended due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The last death penalty in Russia was carried out in 1996. On May 16, 1996, Russian President Boris Yeltsin issued a decree “On a phased reduction in the application of the death penalty in connection with Russia entering the Council of Europe”.

On April 16, 1997, Russia signed protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms regarding the abolition of the death penalty (in peacetime), which was never ratified by the State Duma.

On November 19, 2009, the Constitutional Court made a decision according to which no courts in Russia can accommodate death sentences.

The only country in Europe where the death penalty is used is Belarus.