The Presidential Pardons Commission, which has been...
The Presidential Pardons Commission, which has been operating for nine and a half years, may soon cease operating, rumours reported by the Nezavisimaya Gazeta said
2 MIN READ
The Presidential Pardons Commission, which has been operating for nine and a half years, may soon cease operating, rumours reported by the Nezavisimaya Gazeta said.
"The commission contributed greatly to the introduction of the moratorium on capital punishment in Russia, and now we have no death penalty at all," said Felix Svetov, a commission member since 1999.
"Each commissioner was generally handed 200 to 250 cases every week for consideration and recommendations. These included appeals on capital punishment and requests for reductions of sentences for less serious crimes. However the cases considered within the past six months (in all, about 3,000 cases), with recommendations for the president can't reach President Putin for his signature.
"The deputy head of the Presidential Administration Mr. Ivanov, who is in charge of pardons, said that presidential pardon should be an exclusive measure to be administered in rare and exceptional cases of especial political and social importance. Thus, the Presidential Administration is attempting to violate every prisoner's constitutional right, whereas the president is failing to fulfil his constitutional duty," Svetov accused.
"Now each of us receives only 30 to 40 cases per week. As far as I understand, prisoners have not stopped writing appeals. This means that the flow of appeals is being filtered at a certain level. The Ministry of Justice disseminated directives to penitentiaries not to allow prisoners to write appeals for leniency if they are sentenced for major crimes. But this, again, is an infringement of the law," Svetov said.
"I dare believe that the president is informed about the situation and, therefore, this tendency is triggered by the higher echelons of power. It is hard to believe that impediment of work of a presidential commission could have been initiated by an ordinary state official.
"I'm afraid President Putin will like it. It is obvious that the state is gradually toughening its repressive policy," Svetov denounced.
"The commission contributed greatly to the introduction of the moratorium on capital punishment in Russia, and now we have no death penalty at all," said Felix Svetov, a commission member since 1999.
"Each commissioner was generally handed 200 to 250 cases every week for consideration and recommendations. These included appeals on capital punishment and requests for reductions of sentences for less serious crimes. However the cases considered within the past six months (in all, about 3,000 cases), with recommendations for the president can't reach President Putin for his signature.
"The deputy head of the Presidential Administration Mr. Ivanov, who is in charge of pardons, said that presidential pardon should be an exclusive measure to be administered in rare and exceptional cases of especial political and social importance. Thus, the Presidential Administration is attempting to violate every prisoner's constitutional right, whereas the president is failing to fulfil his constitutional duty," Svetov accused.
"Now each of us receives only 30 to 40 cases per week. As far as I understand, prisoners have not stopped writing appeals. This means that the flow of appeals is being filtered at a certain level. The Ministry of Justice disseminated directives to penitentiaries not to allow prisoners to write appeals for leniency if they are sentenced for major crimes. But this, again, is an infringement of the law," Svetov said.
"I dare believe that the president is informed about the situation and, therefore, this tendency is triggered by the higher echelons of power. It is hard to believe that impediment of work of a presidential commission could have been initiated by an ordinary state official.
"I'm afraid President Putin will like it. It is obvious that the state is gradually toughening its repressive policy," Svetov denounced.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, What the Papers Say, 04/06/2001)
KEEP READING
ALL THE NEWS · DEATH PENALTY On the same front
DEATH PENALTYSEPTEMBER 2, 2026
IRAN - Aziz Roshanayi executed in Shiraz on September 2
DEATH PENALTYSEPTEMBER 2, 2026
IRAN - 3 men executed in Mashhad on September 2
DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
Pakistan: ASI sentenced to death for killing two brothers in Swabi
DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
Bangladesh: HC confirms death sentence of lone accused for rape, murder of 8-year-old Asiya
DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
IRAN - Mojtaba Salahi Laghani executed in Rasht on September 2
DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 30, 2026