Death penalty in Russia: pros and cons

Abstract

The Russian Federation joined the Council of Europe on February 28, 1996. Since April 16, 1997 a moratorium was imposed on the death penalty in Russia. For more than 20 years this type of punishment has not been applied, although among modern academics, legal scholars and politicians there are still discussions on the need to reinstate it, especially after the termination of the membership of the Russian Federation in the Council of Europe since March 16, 2022.The article deals with the issue of the expediency of the death penalty in Russia. The author has employed such analytical tools as analysis, induction, synthesis and the sociological method. The paper presents the arguments of the supporters and the opponents of capital punishment, analyzes the legal problems associated with its practical implementation, as well as addresses the issue of the humaneness of an exceptional punishment measure and its compliance with the objectives of the penalties stipulated in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The present research, conducted via a public opinion poll of the respondents among civilians and civil servants in law enforcement organizations, has revealed their attitude to the death penalty and the readiness of the society to its possible re-application in practice during sentencing.