Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma signed into law the...

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma signed into law the bill on ratification of Protocol 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, dealing with abolition of death penalty under all circumstances. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had ratified the protocol on November 18. Under the protocol, its signatories - Council of Europe members - confirm their commitments on abolition of death penalty: no man can be sentenced to such a measure of punishment.