The recent attack at a concert hall just outside Moscow that claimed the lives of 139 people has reignited the debate on capital punishment in Russia. The assailants, described as militant Islamists from Tajikistan, have sparked calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty in the country.
While Russia has had a moratorium on the death penalty for 28 years, it remains a contentious issue. Some public figures have demanded the execution of the attackers, while others, like Dmitri A. Medvedev, have voiced support for capital punishment. However, there are also prominent opponents, such as Lidia Mikheeva, who view the abolition of the death penalty as a significant achievement in modern Russian history.
Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, who holds significant power in the country, has historically opposed the death penalty. Despite calls for its reinstatement, Putin has maintained his stance against capital punishment. The debate on the issue has intensified following the concert hall massacre, but the Kremlin has stated that they are not currently participating in the discussion.
The moratorium on the death penalty in Russia began in 1996 when President Boris N. Yeltsin agreed to abolish it within three years to gain admission to the Council of Europe. However, Russia’s Parliament did not ratify the agreement, and the moratorium has remained in place since then.
The path to resuming executions in Russia is unclear. The country was expelled from the Council of Europe in 2022, which was the original basis for the moratorium. Some politicians argue that capital punishment could be reinstated without a constitutional change, while others believe it would require adopting a new Constitution.
The debate on capital punishment in Russia continues to divide public opinion, with advocates and opponents presenting strong arguments on both sides of the issue. As the country grapples with the aftermath of the concert hall attack, the future of the death penalty in Russia remains uncertain.
