Russian lawmakers propose death penalty for corrupt officials endangering state security
A bill reintroducing the death penalty for corruption that threatens national security and defense capabilities has been submitted to the Russian State Duma by the Fair Russia party.
Deputies from the Fair Russia party have submitted a bill to the State Duma that would reinstate the death penalty for corrupt acts that endanger state security and defense capabilities. Party leader Sergey Mironov stated in Yekaterinburg that current legislation is insufficient to punish officials whose self-interested actions directly threaten citizens' safety and the country's defense capabilities.
The lawmakers argue that such crimes are comparable to espionage and high treason. Mironov emphasized that corruption in the construction of defensive structures, military facilities, production of weapons and ammunition, and army supplies is not mere theft but a betrayal of the homeland.
The proposed amendments introduce a new type of criminal offense – "corruption activities causing harm to state defense capability and citizens' safety." The bill's authors cite similar practices in China, Vietnam, and Thailand, claiming that public executions in China act as a strong preventive measure.
The death penalty formally exists in Russia but has been under a moratorium since 1997. The last execution was carried out in 1996 against serial killer Sergey Golovkin, also known as "Fisher." Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, calls to lift the moratorium have intensified. In 2024, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, also proposed restoring the death penalty.
