Public push for death penalty in Russia grows: Will Constitution block it?

The debate over the reinstatement of the death penalty in Russia has been reignited following a recent poll by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), which revealed that 49 per cent of respondents support its return.

However, Andrey Klishas, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, has reaffirmed that Russia's position remains unchanged, stating that the death penalty cannot be reintroduced under the current Russian Constitution, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Klishas emphasized that the Constitution explicitly prohibits the return of capital punishment. “The position on returning to the death penalty has not changed. Under the current Constitution, it is impossible,” Klishas said, underscoring that this stance is also upheld by the Constitutional Court of Russia.

This declaration follows remarks by Valery Zorkin, Constitutional Court President, who stated that any potential return of the death penalty could only occur if a new Constitution were adopted. Zorkin stressed that reintroducing capital punishment under the existing legal framework is not a possibility.

The VCIOM poll, which brought the issue back into the public discourse, found that nearly half of the population supports reinstating the death penalty. Despite this, both legal experts and constitutional authorities maintain that any change to Russia's position on the death penalty would require a fundamental revision of the Constitution itself.

Klishas' comments further underscore the Russian government’s commitment to upholding the current constitutional framework, which firmly prohibits the death penalty. The issue continues to be a subject of significant public debate, but it remains clear that, according to current legal interpretations, any shift on this matter would require drastic constitutional amendments.

Adding to the debate, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at the end of 2024 that the authorities do not intend to reinstate the death penalty, even amid the ongoing special military operation. Putin acknowledged that the issue is frequently raised by both citizens and political figures, but reiterated that Russia’s commitment is towards a more humane justice system, with decisions aimed at reducing the severity of punishment rather than reintroducing capital punishment.

By Vafa Guliyeva