RUSSIA. LAVROV DENIES BACKTRACKING ON PLEDGE TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied that Russia is backtracking on its commitment to the Council of Europe to abolish capital punishment.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied that Russia is backtracking on its commitment to the Council of Europe to abolish capital punishment.
"We are not denying our commitment," he said responding to a participant in the mini-session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Moscow. However, "at this stage we cannot ignore public opinion, in particular the sentiments of our Federal Assembly," he said.
The question was raised because Russia was the only country among the 46 Council of Europe member-states to not have ratified protocol No. 6 abolishing the death penalty.
"We are not denying our commitment," he said responding to a participant in the mini-session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Moscow. However, "at this stage we cannot ignore public opinion, in particular the sentiments of our Federal Assembly," he said.
The question was raised because Russia was the only country among the 46 Council of Europe member-states to not have ratified protocol No. 6 abolishing the death penalty.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Interfax, 29/05/2006)