The Death Penalty in Russia: A Bit of History

The death penalty in Russia is an especially grievous sightpunishment. In the times of Ancient Rus, and then throughout the history of the Russian Empire, punitive measures were characterized by cruelty, the basis of which was the severe death penalty.

The death penalty in Ancient Russia could arise andlegislatively gain a foothold either as a blood feud, or because of the influence of Byzantium. It is worth noting that the first official code of laws of Ancient Rus "Russian Truth" did not fix the death penalty, but a short version of this document enshrined the right of blood revenge. Do we need the death penalty at that time? Of course, we need it. It was a time of lawlessness from the point of view of the law, it was not yet a single state without universal rights, therefore everything was regulated by community norms of justice. By the way, True Yaroslavichi banned blood feud.

But in the 14th century the Dvinskaya Charter againhas imposed the death penalty for a crime such as theft, but only if it is committed for the third time, but the murder did not provide such a cruel punishment. After about a hundred years, the Pskov Charter adds to the list of crimes church theft and treason. The Code of Law of Ivan the Great already imposes the death penalty for the murder of such persons as "his master" and other high officials, and the death penalty in Russia was appointed for slander and various religious crimes.

The following general set of laws of Russia was adoptedIvan the Terrible. This document also did not bypass the description of the purpose of the death penalty and determined that the death penalty is the most popular form of punishment. It is worth noting that the foreman of Ivan Vasilyevich made the death penalty public, that is, in an open space, plus everything she was supposed to be accompanied by torture.

In the 18th century this punishment was in its heyday,because the list of crimes for which execution was appointed was growing. Not surprisingly, the peak of the death penalty fell on the reign of Peter 1. But his daughter temporarily replaced the death penalty for a reference to hard labor. Particularly serious crimes were considered only in the Senate, which also passed sentence. One of the most famous death sentences is the sentence of Emelian Pugachev and his associates. He was executed in full view of all with the help of quartering. It should be noted that the quartering was sentenced by Nicholas 1 and the participants in the uprising on the Senate Square - the Decembrists, however, this cruel method was replaced by the gallows.

Do we need a modern death penalty in Russia?Opinions on this subject are different. Some believe that for certain types of crimes, the death penalty is simply necessary. Among supporters: the LDPR, the head of the MVD Kolokoltsov and the Communist Party. But the opponents of this type of punishment are the following: Vladimir Putin, the Just Russia party and Dmitry Medvedev.

The death penalty in Russia in our time is notis applied. It imposed a moratorium. However, the history of our country shows how tough the rulers were and how literate the law was-it was the same for all, and both the peasants and the nobles were sentenced to death.