Allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin are urging the reinstatement of the death penalty following an attack at a Moscow concert hall on Friday.
The demand has sparked criticism, particularly due to Russia’s history of utilizing counter-terrorism and anti-extremist legislation to target both Kremlin opponents and supporters of Ukraine.
Although Russia has maintained a moratorium on capital punishment since the 1990s, voices within Putin’s circle are increasingly advocating for its revival in response to the deadliest attack the country has witnessed in two decades.
Vladimir Vasilyev, the head of the ruling United Russia party in the State Duma, expressed that the issue of the death penalty is currently under thorough consideration. He emphasized that any decision would be made in alignment with societal sentiment and expectations.
The assault on the Crocus City Hall concert hall claimed over 130 lives as gunmen rampaged through the venue, shooting attendees and setting the structure ablaze.
Yury Afonin, deputy head of the State Duma’s security committee, echoed the call for reinstating the death penalty, specifically for cases involving terrorism and murder.
Former President Dmitry Medvedev and Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, both close allies of Putin, also advocated for severe measures against the perpetrators, labeling them as “terrorists” who should be “destroyed.”
However, critics have expressed apprehension, citing concerns over the broad application of counter-terrorism and anti-extremist laws, which have been utilized to target dissenting voices and those aligned with Ukraine.
Notably, in 2023 alone, a record number of “terror”-related criminal cases were opened, according to the independent Mediazona news site.
Additionally, the recent inclusion of the “international LGBT movement” in Russia’s list of “terrorists and extremists” has drawn further criticism.
The imprisonment of prominent figures such as Alexei Navalny on charges of “extremism” has fueled skepticism regarding the potential consequences of reinstating the death penalty, with critics cautioning against exploiting tragedy and highlighting the risk of wrongful convictions.
