200. In his reply, the representative of the State party pointed out that the number of death sentences imposed and carried out had gone down by one third. Four bills relating to the publication of sentencing statistics had been drafted since 1986 but none had yet become law and the problem would be fully Under dealt with only when a political decision had been taken in Parliament. the draft new Criminal Code, the death penalty would be retained only for aggravated homicide, crimes against the State, spying, terrorism and acts of Although the threat of the death penalty had not violence against minors. that, in a referendum, proved to be a deterrent to crime, it was likely 80 per cent of the population would be in favour of maintsining it. Article 123 (1) had been applied in 16 cases, mainly for banditry and serious crimes such a6 hostage-taking. 201. Death sentence6 were reviewed by the Court of Appeal at the request of circumstances, be dealt with by the accused person and could, in exceptional the Supreme Soviet. Moreover, it was possible in all cases to apply for a of Criminal Legislation, not only pregnant pardon. Under the new Principle6 women, but all women, would no longer be subject to execution, and the seme would apply to men over the age of 60. These provisions had not yet been applied since they had not yet been approved by Parliament. 202, With regard to question6 raised relating to the protection of the right to life against the risk of nuclear disaster and environmental pollution, the representative explained that after the accident at Chernobyl, a "high-risk" area within a radius of 300 kilometres had been designated and the inhabitant6 within that area had been moved into new housing that had been built for area had been extended and a decree them. Subsequently, the high-risk concerning 1iabiLity in cases of non-compliance with instructions relating to environmental protection had been adopted. Other texts relating to the protection of citizens who had Suffered losses in the disaster were currently under consideration. A moratorium on the construction of new nuclear plants and power stations had also been imposed. Liberty and securitv of the Derscln tmtduant of dazwrs and 203. With reference to that issue, member6 of the Committee wished to know what were the conditions and the maximum duration of solitary confinement; what were the main differences in the regimes of prisons and corrective labour institutions or educational labour coloniest whether the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners were complied with in all such places of detention] whether there was any mechanism to prevent abuse of the judicial power6 of the procurator and what recourse was available to persons who had been victims of such abuses; what was the maximum legal period of detention without trial; and whether there was any provision for a regular review by a court of such detention, 204. Member6 also wished to know whether the courts of first instance were required to invalidate any sentence based on a forced confessions whether persons responsible for ill-treating prisoners were liable to criminal prosecution or disciplinary sanction6 ; whether measures had been taken to inform persons under arrest that they had the right to communicate with of the Ukrainian SSR contained a specific Counsel: whether the legislation provision comparable to article 9, paragraph 3, of the Covenant; whether the -49-