RESOLUTION 1111 (1997)1 on the honouring of the commitment entered into by Russia upon accession to the Council of Europe to p

RESOLUTION 1111 (1997)1 on the honouring of the commitment entered into by Russia upon accession to the Council of Europe to put into place a moratorium on executions

1.The Assembly has received reliable information that, in the first half of 1996, fifty-three executions were carried out in Russia. According to the information given to the rapporteurs on Russia's honouring of obligations and commitments in December 1996, no executions have been carried out since 2 August 1996.

2.Russia entered into a solemn commitment, upon accession to the Council of Europe, to put into place a moratorium on executions with effect from the day of accession. The executions which have taken place in Russia in 1996 thus constitute a flagrant violation of her commitments and obligations.

3.The Assembly welcomes and supports all efforts in the country, especially in the State Duma, to institute a moratorium on executions, to limit the scope of capital punishment, and to abolish the death penalty.

4.However, the Assembly must condemn Russia for having violated her commitment to put into place a moratorium on executions, and deplores the executions that have taken place. It demands that Russia immediately honour her commitments and halt any executions still pending.

5.The Assembly warns the Russian authorities that it will take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with commitments entered into. In particular, should any more executions be carried out following the adoption of this resolution, the Assembly may consider the non-ratification of the credentials of the Russian parliamentary delegation at its next session.

6.The Assembly may also, at its next part-session, consider what action could be envisaged by the Committee of Ministers to ensure that the moratorium on executions will be put into place with immediate effect.

__________

1. Assembly debate on 29 January 1997 (5th Sitting) (see Doc. 7746, report by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, rapporteur: Mrs Wohlwend).

Text adopted by the Assembly on 29 January 1997 (5th Sitting).