Express Hronika, February 8, 1999, No. 6 (561), with photo

18 DAYS REMAIN TILL ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY

On February 26 expires the term established by Council of Europe for Russia to ratify the Sixth facultative protocol to the European convention on Human Rights and Basic Freedoms regarding abolition of death penalty. The members of Russian State Duma should either abolish formally death penalty, or put under question membership of Russia in Council of Europe.

Activists of Radical Party, requiring abolition of death penalty, continue to carry out manifestations at the State Duma entrance. Radical posters with the question "Death Penalty or Council of Europe?" meet MPs each Wednesday and Friday - days of plenary sessions of parliament.

On February 5 demonstrators managed to communicate with Russian Federation Ombudsman Mr. Oleg Mironov. The Ombudsman considers, that death penalty should nevertheless be applied - but only to those guilty in deliberate murder or genocide.