Russia
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- semi-presidential federation
- CONSTITUTION
- December 12, 1993
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on civil law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral; Federation Council (Soviet Federatsii) and State Duma (Gosudarstvennaya Duma)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; the Federation Council appoints judges for life, on the recommendation of the Head of State
RELIGIONS
15-20% Russian Orthodox; 10-15% Muslims; 2% Christians
From the country
- FEBRUARY 1, 2002RussiaDEATH PENALTY
The public debate in Russia over the future of the...
The public debate in Russia over the future of the death penalty heated up when the justice minister said it should be scrapped, while a regional governor said the murder rate showed it ought to be kept
- JANUARY 30, 2002RussiaDEATH PENALTY
Vasily has no regrets about his old job as an executioner,...
Vasily has no regrets about his old job as an executioner, but still cannot bring himself to slaughter animals on his small farm
- JANUARY 29, 2002RussiaDEATH PENALTY
The murder of a young couple, Alexander and Mariya,...
The murder of a young couple, Alexander and Mariya, apparently by a gang who were after his $60,000 Lexus, sparked fresh debate over the future of the death penalty - on hold in Russia since 1996
- JANUARY 24, 2002RussiaDEATH PENALTY
A briefing submitted by Amnesty International to the...
A briefing submitted by Amnesty International to the 26th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women said that in the armed conflict in Chechnya, women have suffered a variety of human rights abuses including rape, arbi
- JANUARY 11, 2002RussiaDEATH PENALTY
Russia's current laws concerning Criminal Procedures...
Russia's current laws concerning Criminal Procedures are "too soft," an advisor to the prosecutor general Vladimir Kolesnikov said at a press conference
- JANUARY 1, 2002RussiaDEATH PENALTY
In 1996, the then President Boris Yeltsin imposed a...
In 1996, the then President Boris Yeltsin imposed a moratorium on the use of capital punishment when Russia joined the Council of Europe on February 28 of that year
- DECEMBER 29, 2001RussiaDEATH PENALTY
Russian President Vladimir Putin dissolved the Pardons...
Russian President Vladimir Putin dissolved the Pardons Commission, one of the country's most liberal organisations set up under his predecessor Boris Yeltsin in 1992
- DECEMBER 26, 2001RussiaDEATH PENALTY
Russia's Prosecutor-General Vladimir Ustinov said Chechen...
Russia's Prosecutor-General Vladimir Ustinov said Chechen rebel commander Salman Raduyev, sentenced December 25 to life imprisonment, deserved the death penalty
- DECEMBER 25, 2001RussiaDEATH PENALTY
[political journalist] Valery Vyzhutovich wrote in...
[political journalist] Valery Vyzhutovich wrote in [the Russian daily business newspaper ] Vremya MN that the life-sentence handed to [Chechen terrorist] Salman Raduyev was "in fact passed long before the end of the trial
- DECEMBER 12, 2001RussiaDEATH PENALTY
Russia's chief prosecutor told a court that a notorious...
Russia's chief prosecutor told a court that a notorious Chechen guerrilla leader on trial for his part in a bloody hostage-taking raid should spend the rest of his life behind bars
- DECEMBER 10, 2001RussiaDEATH PENALTY
In an open letter on International Human Rights Day,...
In an open letter on International Human Rights Day, Amnesty International urged members of the Russian State Duma (parliament) to take steps towards fully abolishing the death penalty
- DECEMBER 10, 2001RussiaDEATH PENALTY
A group of Russian State Duma deputies from the Union...
A group of Russian State Duma deputies from the Union of Right Forces (SPS) faction said it intends to propose a bill to abolish the death penalty from the Criminal Code