July 26
SLOVAKIA:
Slovaks favor capital punishment
Tough penalties for criminals are popular in Slovakia. A poll carried out
by the MVK agency for the SME daily showed that 61.7 % of respondents were
in favor of reintroducing capital punishment. Roughly 80 % said they
welcomed last year's introduction of the "3 strikes you're out" system,
which puts serious repeat offenders behind bars for life.
The death penalty in Slovakia was cancelled in 1990. Richard Fides, a
spokesperson for the Justice Ministry, said that Slovakias membership in
the Council of Europe prohibits the state from reintroducing capital
punishment into its laws.
The last criminal executed in Slovakia was Stefan Svitek, whom
psychologists classified a psychopath. The repeat offender was put to
death on June 8, 1989, for the brutal rape and murder of his 2 daughters
and pregnant wife.
(source: The Slovak Spectator)
RUSSIA:
Support for Capital Punishment High in Russia
Many Russian adults support the death penalty, according to a poll by the
Yury Levada Analytical Center. 65 & of respondents support capital
punishment.
Both the Soviet Union and Russia contemplated the death penalty as
punishment for several crimes. Executions were usually carried out by
firing squad. Russian president Boris Yeltsin introduced a decree to enact
a "gradual cessation" of the practice. In 1997, Yeltsin signed a
moratorium on capital punishment, which remains in place today.
In March 2002, Russian president Vladimir Putin said calls for the
restoration of the death penalty were "foolish" and "meant to boost some
peoples political ratings." Any changes on the legislation could lead to
Russias expulsion from the Council of Europe.
Recent terrorist attacks in Russia - including the October 2002 four-day
standoff at a Moscow theatre and the September 2004 3-day siege in a
Beslan school - have prompted some public officers to request the
restoration of capital punishment, including deputy prosecutor general
Vladimir Kolesnikov
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose capital punishment?
Jun. 2005 May 2002
Support 65% 79%
Oppose 25% 17%
Hard to answer
10% 4%
Source: Yury Levada Analytical Center
Methodology: Interviews to 1,600 Russian adults, conducted from Jun. 16 to
Jun. 21, 2005. No margin of error was provided.
(source: Angus Reid Consultants)
SRI LANKA:
Sri Lanka President urged to implement capital punishment
The Attorney General's Department has recommended that President Chandrika
Kumaratunga implement capital punishment against those already sentenced
to death.
Under the instructions by Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabeysan, a top team
of lawyers led by Solicitor-General C.R. de Silva are finalising the
recommendations.
The department said the President should carry out the sentences against
those who have been found guilty of the murder of Indian national Ms. Rita
John and the Hokandara mass murder, in which 6 members of 1 family were
killed.
Local and international human rights activists including Amnesty
International are protesting the governments decision to re-implement
capital punishment.
(source: Colombo Page)
