Chief justice sees no obstacles to cancel capital punishment

MOSCOW, January 29 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's Chief Constitutional
Justice Valery Zorkin said there are no legal barriers to finally cancel
capital punishment in Russia, and Protocol 6 to the European Convention on
Human Rights will be definitely ratified with time.
"I believe there are no legal obstacles for the ratification of
Protocol 6 today," he said in an interview published by Rossiyskaya gazeta
on Friday.
Russia introduced a moratorium on capital punishment and in 1999 the
president submitted a lawbill to parliament that would ratify Protocol 6.
However the State Duma refused to pass it as public opinion was split on
the issue.
"It is important that the process to finally cancel capital punishment
is irreversible. That means Europe and Russia are moving in one direction
and according to a common trend," Zorkin said, adding "everything is good
in its time".
Last year the Constitutional Court extended the moratorium, which
expired this year, and Zorkin rejected accusations the decision was
premature.
"It worked to change the time. Such decisions promote further legal
and democratic development of Russia," he said.
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