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Military operation in Ukraine

Zaporozhye Region’s acting governor favors using death penalty in special cases

As a result of last year's referendums, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, as well as the DPR and LPR, became parts of Russia

SIMFEROPOL, January 16. /TASS/. The death penalty in the Zaporozhye Region could be used in very special cases, the region’s acting governor, Yevgeny Balitsky, said in an interview on the Krym-24 TV channel on Monday.

"I am strongly in favor of the introduction of the death penalty, especially in special cases. But the utmost level of honesty and impartiality in handling such cases must be ensured," he emphasized.

Balitsky explained that impunity was breeding further crimes. As an example, he cited a tragic incident in which gunmen broke into a private home and slaughtered an entire family, including small children. "In such cases, it is necessary to immediately solve the problem on the spot," he believes.

As a result of last year's referendums, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, as well as the DPR and LPR, became parts of Russia. Until January 1, 2026, the regions will enjoy a transitional period for integration into Russia, during which time they are to bring their legislation into line with Russian laws. During the transitional period, these regions must be integrated into the economic, financial, credit, and legal systems of Russia and the system of public administration. The same concerns military duty and military service regulations.

In July 2022, the People's Council (legislature) of the Donetsk People's Republic lifted the moratorium on the death penalty as a form of punishment. At the same time, there is currently a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in Russia. According to documents published on the website of Russia’s Constitutional Court on October 2, 2022, laws that contradict the Constitution of Russia shall not be applied in the newly-admitted territories. There were reports that the regional authorities were planning to resolve the issue of abolishing the death penalty before integration into Russia's legal space.

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