Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer...

Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer said he is concerned over the renewed discussion of death sentences and executions in Russia.In an article published in Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Schwimmer says that the Council of Europe supports the position of President Putin, who favoured the complete abolition of the death penalty while taking office and in his further statements.
Russia has a unique opportunity to demonstrate that it is fully devoted to European values and principles by getting rid of this heritage [death penalty], the Council of Europe secretary general noted.