MOSCOW, June 1. /TASS/. The newly-elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky believes that public opinion should be considered when abandoning the moratorium on the death penalty and, perhaps, the issue should be brought to a referendum if Russian citizens want to do so.

"As far as abolishing the death penalty goes, with Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe, this issue is increasingly being heard on various platforms. A moratorium on its use has been in effect in the Russian Federation since 1997," Slutsky noted in an interview with TASS. The legislator pointed out that since Russia became a member of the Council of Europe, it has never ratified Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights concerning the abolition of the death penalty.

"The reason for this is the position of a large part of our own society after the monstrous terrorist attacks in Russia and the atrocities by nationalists. And the LDPR is, above all, a party of ordinary people. Therefore, as you know, when the most heinous crimes against humanity are committed, we advocate introducing exceptions and a departure from the moratorium on carrying out the death penalty," the politician said.

However, Slutsky continued, "this does not mean that it is necessary to bring back capital punishment to the Criminal Code, as it was in the Soviet Union." "It is necessary to approach this issue in detail. In addition, it should be guided by the mood of voters. I do not exclude that a referendum could be held here, if public demand for this emerges again," the LDPR leader concluded.

On May 27, Slutsky was unanimously elected leader of the LDPR at the party’s congress.