The terrorist attack in the Moscow region renewed the parliamentary discussion about the return of the death penalty

After the tragedy in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, discussions in the Russian parliament resumed about tightening government policy in the areas of security and migration, as well as about the enforcement of existing norms. The most resonant topic was the lifting of the moratorium on the use of the death penalty: three out of five Duma factions recalled that they had long been in favor of such a decision. At the same time, deputies also propose other measures that, in their opinion, will help prevent bloody incidents.

The tone for the next round of parliamentary discussion on the restoration of the death penalty – at least for terrorist crimes – was set shortly after Friday’s terrorist attack in the Moscow region by the head of the United Russia faction, Vladimir Vasiliev. “They ask a lot of questions about the death penalty,” he noted on Saturday on Duma.TV. “The topic will certainly be deeply, professionally, and meaningfully studied.” And the decision made as a result “will meet the moods and expectations” of society, United Russia promised.

On the same day, the head of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation, Andrei Klishas, ​​wrote in his Telegram channel that “neither the Duma nor the Federation Council can overcome the decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation on the issue of the death penalty.” Let us recall that the last time the Chairman of the Constitutional Court Valery Zorkin publicly addressed this issue was in November 2022. “Only a change in the Constitution can serve as the basis for the resumption of the death penalty,” noted Mr. Zorkin, speaking at the X All-Russian Congress of Judges. He also clarified that amending the relevant article would actually require the adoption of a new Basic Law.

Meanwhile, solidarity in the desire to return capital punishment is demonstrated in the three Duma factions. “Our position has not changed for a long time and was not formulated as a result of the tragic events: today society has not reached the point of abolishing the death penalty,” Alexander Yushchenko, head of the press service of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, told Kommersant, adding that this measure “should be returned” as punishment for terrorist acts and crimes against children. The chairman of A Just Russia – For Truth, Sergei Mironov, also reminded Kommersant of the party’s similar position: “The death penalty should be introduced for perpetrators of terrorist attacks.” LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky also agrees with his colleagues. “For terrorists – only the death penalty! I said it and I say it again!” — he wrote on Telegram.

Vice Speaker Vladislav Davankov (New People) publicly spoke out against the return of the “tower”. “The main argument against the death penalty is the inevitability of miscarriages of justice,” he wrote on Telegram. “No mistake is worth a human life, and when there are 0.33% acquittals in the country, mistakes are simply inevitable.” Russia “exhausted the limit on capital punishment in the last century,” the politician is confident: “Those executed are still being acquitted and rehabilitated, but posthumous acquittal is little consolation.”

In addition, deputies propose a number of other measures aimed at increasing the level of public safety. Thus, the same Mr. Davankov advocates “maximum tightening of control over the circulation of weapons,” and also insists on carrying out “serious work on migration legislation.” “We need a whole range of measures: digital control over migrants, deportation for the slightest offense, and other measures,” the vice speaker is sure. “This is a security issue. It needs to be resolved.”

Sergei Mironov also calls for “bringing order to migration policy”: “Unfortunately, yesterday’s tragedy at Crocus City Hall clearly showed: uncontrolled migration and corruption in this area not only give rise to social problems, but also create favorable conditions for sabotage and terrorist activities intelligence services of Ukraine and Western countries.” At the same time, Mr. Mironov proposes to mobilize resources “to solve military problems and counter-terrorism tasks”: in particular, “to involve professionals from the National Guard in security” and to use “the latest technical means.”

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation notes that the tragedy exposed a “large chain” of topics on which “decisions must be made,” including security when organizing mass events. Nevertheless, “legislative initiatives should not be born out of emotions,” Alexander Yushchenko is sure. According to him, the party intends to put forward a list of its proposals and discuss it in detail this week, including during upcoming meetings with the government.

Grigory Leiba