Khloponin offers cancelling death penalty moratorium for terrorists

Death penalty could be reintroduced for terror acts, as it is done in Belarus, Alexander Khloponin, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and President's Plenipotentiary for the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD), said on December 16 at a meeting with journalists in the city of Essentuki, Stavropol Territory.

The topic of his meeting with journalists in Essentuki was "The Antiterrorist and Anti-Corruption Activities in the Regions of the NCFD: Problems, Results and Prospects".

"When the fact of terrorism is established, that is, commission of bombings and killings assassinations, then, I'd probably introduce the death penalty under this article. Maybe, I'd follow Belarus. However, as to other cases – suspicion of terrorism, aiding militants, etc., I wouldn't tighten the punishment up to the death penalty," he said.

"We had all passed through the period of repressions; we know that plenty of people were killed on trumped-up charges... I don't want to stumble again," said the Plenipotentiary.

"As long as we are improving our judicial system and legal relationships, I wouldn't hurry with introduction of the death penalty," said Khloponin.

Life imprisonment is often "bitterer and more painful than a fast execution," the ITAR-TASS quotes Mr Khloponin as saying.

According to Oleg Orlov, the head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", the death penalty will bring no positive results. He said that this measure would not stop terrorists, because they are convinced that they are right, and are ready to die, the Radio Station "Echo Moskvy" reports.