When the death penalty was abolished in Russia. The history of the death penalty in Russia

The death penalty is the case when the law allows to deprive the life of the person guilty of crimes as punishment. Many historians are wondering whether the imposition of the death penalty was right and further abandonment of it. On the one hand, according to well-known facts, more than 60% of criminals, once again at large, repeat their actions and return to their origins. However, when Russia abolished the death penalty?

Often in developed countries, before the death penalty, a special trial takes place , during which the participation and guilt of the defendant will either be proven, or his lawyer will completely refute the actions attributed to his client. Execution has the right to hold only a representative of the law, endowed with such duties. Otherwise, the process of execution of a death sentence can rightfully be considered a murder, and the so-called executioner will be judged according to the law in force.

The history of the death penalty in Russia

The death penalty in Russia was a common occurrence for many years. Some historians believe that the initial sources of the death penalty are the customs of the blood feud of the Eastern Slavs. In turn, such revenge is one of the most ancient forms of manifestation of punishments and tortures over people.

The origin of this punishment is usually attributed to the beginning of the 5th century. The very first mention of the imposition of the death penalty on the territory of the Old Russian state is the penalty that was invented by Prince Vladimir for robbery in 996.

The first in Russia, who still decided on a step to abolish the death sentence, was Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. However, this was not a personal initiative of the prince. According to historical data, the church hierarchy strongly recommended that such an act be decided upon. Subsequently, the children of Prince Yaroslav renounced the long-term blood feud, replacing it with a cash payment in the appropriate amount. But some historians say that it was the death penalty that punished state crimes.

Over the next few years, the right to take life has disappeared, then returned. Many may consider this punishment an error, while others fully support such a policy. Has the death penalty been abolished in Russia? Of course, yes.

The death penalty is the consequence of serious crimes

The last case of the use of the death penalty was recorded on the territory of the Russian Federation in 1996. In itself, punishment, in accordance with the Criminal Code of Russia, was established and recommended for use only in the case of serious crimes. The accused was also given the right to have his case reviewed in court with the participation of specially selected jurors.

This measure of punishment was assigned to males aged 18 to 65 years. The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation at that time provided only 5 articles, the punishment of which was the death penalty. These included crimes such as genocide, murder, attempt on the life of a police officer, public figure or representative of the law. The only type of execution in the Russian Federation was the execution. How and when was the death penalty abolished in Russia? At the end of 2009, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation adopted a decision on the basis of which there was a ban on the right to deprive the lives of criminals.

The death penalty in relation to women

According to the Constitution and the Criminal Code, it was strictly forbidden to apply such punishment to women, as well as to criminals who did not reach adulthood. As an exception, instead of a death sentence, a court could be sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment or a life sentence.

The process of applying the death penalty

Until the time when the death penalty was abolished in Russia, there was a law on the possibility of imposing a death sentence on persons who had reached the age of 18. Also, the death penalty was not assigned to persons who were extradited by another country for criminal prosecution and punishment. According to the established rules, the punishment was imposed only in the presence of a judge, a prosecutor, a defendant and his lawyer. The execution itself was carried out by the judge who appointed the verdict, it was also obligatory to attend the doctor to fix the time of death, and the employee of the institution where the execution was carried out.

Why Russia abolished the death penalty

Russia signed Protocol No. 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that in peacetime no one can be subjected to a death sentence. At the moment, there are several nuances and issues on the cancellation of punishment and changes in the constitution.

Therefore, if we answer the question about the year in which the death penalty was abolished in Russia, we can safely call 2009.