3. De Facto Abolitionist States On 24 October 2007, the deputies of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe reiterated their “strong and urgent call on the Russian Federation, as the only member state which has not yet abolished the death penalty, to take without delay all the necessary steps to transform the existing moratorium on executions into de jure abolition of the death penalty and to ratify Protocol 6”.23 On 17 January 2008, during his visit to Russia, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President René van der Linden welcomed the “moratorium on the death penalty and Mr Putin’s public position against capital punishment”. He further stressed that “this commitment should be formally confirmed by the Russian Federation by ratifying Protocol 6”.24 On 20 February 2008, the State Duma’s Legislation Committee submitted a bill to the lower house of parliament on the abolition of the death penalty in the Russian Federation.25 23  Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Decision CM/Del/Dec(2007)1009, “Abolition of the death penalty in all member states of the Council of Europe”, 26 October 2007. 24  “René van der Linden to President Putin: ‘our respect for common values should be reflected in concrete steps’”, Council of Europe, 17 January 2008, <https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1234253&Si te=COE&BackColorInternet=DBDCF2&BackColorIntranet=FDC864&BackColorLogged=FDC864>. 25  “Russia is committed to abolishing the death penalty as a member of the Council of Europe”, Hands Off Cain website, 1 January 2008, <http://www.handsoffcain.info/news/index. php?iddocumento=10001778>. 5