MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) - Sergei Ivanov, the head of the Russian presidential administration, believes it is premature to restore the death penalty in Russia as a measure of punishment, including for terrorism, although he is confident that 90% of the people would vote for the resumption of the use of the death penalty if a referendum was conducted on the matter.
"My answer is this: if a referendum is conducted in Russia on the issue of resumption of the use of the death penalty, I do not have the slightest doubt that over 90% of the population, Russian citizens will vote for this measure," Ivanov told Interfax.
Including for crimes such as "the killing of people and some other crimes," he said. "At the same time, sometimes one has to proceed from common sense and the international obligations of Russia, not emotions. Therefore, my personal opinion is that, while sharing the emotional part, I believe that it is, softly speaking, premature and inexpedient," Ivanov said.