Van der Linden (L) and Putin

RUSSIA. PACE HEAD URGES PUTIN TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY

January 17, 2008: The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rene van der Linden, urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to abolish the death penalty, a senior Russian MP said.
The PACE head called on Russia to ratify Protocol 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which outlaws capital punishment.
Although Russia imposed a moratorium on the death penalty shortly after it joined the 47-nation Council of Europe in 1996, it did not formally abolish capital punishment within three years, as membership of the organization requires.
Putin said Russia would comply with the Convention, but added that a complete legal ban on the death penalty would depend on the opinion of the Russian people. Latest opinion polls suggest that a total of 65% of Russians support the death penalty. (Sources: RIA Novisti, 17/01/2008)