The Russian State Duma (lower house) adopted an appeal...

The Russian State Duma (lower house) adopted an appeal to the president Vladimir Putin initiated by member of the People's Deputy parliamentary group Arkady Paskayev, saying it deems it too early "to ratify Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (which concerns the abolishment of the death penalty and should be adopted in March) of April 28, 1983."
In its appeal, the Duma refers to "numerous demands" from people to resume the application of the death penalty in Russia.
"It is unacceptable to ignore the will of the people, who do not agree with the abolition of the death penalty, in the interests of foreign policy."
The appeal was passed in a 266-85 vote, with a necessary minimum of 226 votes. Deputies demanded also from Vladimir Putin to work out and submit to the parliament a draft law on trial juries. Meanwhile, the Russian president, speaking at an expanded session of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office board on February 8, called on law enforcement agencies to ensure the inevitability of punishment for criminals, but at the same time spoke against toughening laws and resuming application of the death penalty.