The State Duma has proposed to return the death penalty for foreign mercenaries

Deputy Kolunov: It is necessary to lift the moratorium on the death penalty for mercenaries

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Statement by State Duma deputy Sergei Kolunov, made in an interview with RIA Novosti, contains a proposal to return the death penalty for foreign mercenaries operating in the SVO zone against Russia. Kolunov said that he is ready to appeal to the Constitutional Court to consider his proposal.

Today, Russia has a moratorium on the death penalty, which was introduced in 1996 as part of its commitments to the Council of Europe. However, the topic of the death penalty periodically comes up in public and political discussions, especially in the context of crimes that cause a wide public resonance.

Kolunov believes that the current penalties for mercenarism, as provided for in Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, are not severe enough. Currently, mercenarism is punishable by imprisonment for a term of seven to 15 years. If incidents of murder are proven, the term may be increased to life imprisonment. However, according to Kolunov, even such measures are too humane for those who consciously participate in armed conflicts for money.

The issue of lifting the moratorium on the death penalty is not only a political but also a complex legal task. To do this, it is necessary to amend the Constitution or achieve an exemption from obligations to international organizations, such as the Council of Europe. This may require significant effort and time, and also lead to serious international consequences.

In June 2024, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation Valery Zorkin reported in a report that it is impossible to return the death penalty under the current Constitution in Russia.