“Stalin era created concern about the death penalty in Russia”

The Stalin era was a blow for Russia, so both external and internal issues raise concerns over using the death penalty in the country, believes Alla Glinchikova from the Institute of Globalization and Social Movements.

According to the analyst, the fact that there is no legislation in Russia to completely abolish the death penalty, even though it hasn’t been carried out for thirteen years already, shows that there’s really no final decision on the issue yet, and no consensus on it, neither in society nor in the political elite.

Why is that? "On the one hand, it’s the criminal situation in Russia,” said Glinchikova.

“Also, the tradition of the death penalty is very strong in the country. On the other hand, we suffered so much from this kind of punishment, so the society and the elite are ambivalent.”