Death Penalty May Return

Russia’s Supreme Court asked the Constitutional Court to explain whether Russian courts may impose the death penalty from January 1, 2010. In 1999 the Constitutional Court ruled that the death penalty is unconstitutional before jury trials are introduced in all of Russia's constituent regions. On January 1 juries are to be introduced in the last region, Chechnya. On the other hand, Russia signed in 1997 Protocol 6 to the European Convention of Human Rights, which prohibits the death penalty. Although Russia has not ratified the protocol, the 1969 Vienna Convention arguably prevents Russia from taking measures contrary to the protocol before formally declining its ratification.

http://lenta.ru/news/2009/10/29/death/