Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin. Photo: Yulia Zyryanova/POOL/TASS
The first plenary session of the State Duma since Friday’s tragedy in Crocus took place on Tuesday.
“It is proposed to honor the memory of all those who died in Crocus City,” with these words the chairman of the State Duma, Viacheslav Volodin, opened the meeting. The more than four hundred deputies rose from their seats in complete silence and bowed their heads.
Then, as usual, according to the regulations, the speeches of the representatives of each of the five parliamentary parties began. Of course, the main topic was the recent “hate attack” carried out by international terrorists.
“In the speeches of faction leaders, proposals were made to return the death penalty,” Vyacheslav Volodin responded to these statements. — In our Constitution and in criminal legislation, no one has abolished the death penalty. There is a decision of the Constitutional Court [от 1999 года — прим. ред.]who postponed such sentences.
Therefore, according to Volodin, “there is no need for referendums” [относительно возвращения или невозвращения высшей меры наказания — прим. ред.] – “the decision of the Constitutional Court on this issue is sufficient.”
— Considering that this issue is being discussed now, we as legislators must inform our voters: who makes the decisions? [по смертной казни — прим. ред.]. The Constitutional Court’s decision was taken in compliance with international obligations to the Council of Europe. [Но] “You and I left the Council of Europe, so this issue requires discussion,” said Volodin, referring to Russia’s refusal to submit to this international organization in the context of unilateral Western sanctions in February-March 2022.
As a result, the president proposed creating a special working group that would analyze legislation on the use of the death penalty and improve immigration policy. This working group will be headed by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Irina Yarovaya.
Recall that on March 22, 2024, a monstrous terrorist attack took place at the Crocus City Hall concert hall near Moscow, which claimed the lives of more than 130 people. The next day, a group of militants was intercepted while heading to the border with Ukraine.
