THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION 3.8 THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS International Instruments Ratification Status84 ICCPR R Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR – CRC R ECHR R Protocol No. 6 to the ECHR S Protocol No. 13 to the ECHR – Status: de facto abolitionist LEGAL FRAMEWORK The Constitution of the Russian Federation provides for the death penalty, until its abolition, as an exceptional punishment for especially grave crimes against life.85 The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation envisages the death penalty for five crimes: murder with aggravating circumstances, assassination attempt against a state or public figure, attempt on the life of a person administering justice or preliminary investigations, attempt on the life of a law-enforcement officer, and genocide.86 Upon accession to the Council of Europe on 28 February 1996, the Russian Federation committed itself to introducing a moratorium on executions and to ratifying Protocol No. 6 to the ECHR within three years. A presidential decree was 84 85 86 R = ratified, S = signed, a dash (–) indicates that the participating State has neither signed nor ratified the relevant instrument. Article 20(2) of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, 25 December 1993. Articles 105(2), 277, 295, 317, and 357 of the Criminal Code, 13 June 1996. 29