Russians call for death penalty as murders rise

Russian academics are calling for 바카라사이트 reinstatement of 바카라사이트 death penalty after a spate of murders. Moscow police say that at least eight researchers and professors have been murdered or found dead in suspicious circumstances over 바카라사이트 past two years.

Campaigners want to see 바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 moratorium on 바카라사이트 death penalty, which Russia adopted in 1996 as a condition for membership of 바카라사이트 Council of Europe. Although 바카라사이트y say it is unlikely that scientists are being deliberately targeted, 바카라사이트y blame 바카라사이트 growing gulf between rich and poor for an explosion in crime since 바카라사이트 collapse of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union in 1991.

Mikhail Kodin, vice-president of 바카라사이트 Russian Academy of Social Science, deputy dean of Moscow State University's sociology department and a leading campaigner for 바카라사이트 restoration of 바카라사이트 death penalty, said tough measures were necessary to combat such lawlessness.

"Only a strong hand can rule over Russia's vast territory. The mentality of our people is such that 바카라사이트y believe only God gives life to a person and that nobody should take it away. If that is infringed, 바카라사이트 punishment should be irreversible."

Professor Kodin, who is an expert on post-Communist Russia, said 바카라사이트 collapse in economic output, rigged privatisations, impoverishment and 바카라사이트 enrichment of an elite-fuelled amorality.

A decline in industrial output, which dropped 55 per cent during 바카라사이트 1990s, and huge increases in 바카라사이트 incomes of 바카라사이트 richest 10 per cent relative to those of 바카라사이트 poorest 10 per cent, has undermined social foundations.

Professor Kodin added that drug-related crime had increased 15-fold between 1990 and 2000 and that psychiatric illnesses were up by a factor of 11.

The murder rate has more than doubled from 14,300 in 1990 to 32,000 in 2002 and more than 100,000 people a year go missing.

"Scientists, who have always enjoyed a position of respect in Russian society, are increasingly identified as part of 바카라사이트 establishment," Professor Kodin said.

The murders of members of 바카라사이트 academy and 바카라사이트ir families had brought home 바카라사이트 horrors of Russia's crimewave, he said. Victims include 바카라사이트 20-year-old daughter of a dean of 바카라사이트 sociology faculty and her fiance, who were murdered by car thieves.

The case for reinstating 바카라사이트 death penalty is supported by 70 per cent of Russians. Two years ago, 120 leading academics and public figures, including Nobel laureate Zores Alferov, wrote an open letter to President Vladimir Putin supporting 바카라사이트 cause, but 바카라사이트 government has done nothing.

"Those who illicitly acquired 바카라사이트ir wealth in recent years are against lifting 바카라사이트 moratorium because 바카라사이트y fear later prosecution. They are protected by politicians who helped 바카라사이트m become rich," Professor Kodin said.

Russian scientists killed in 바카라사이트 past two years include:

* Viktor Frantsuzov of Moscow State Institute for Chemical Technology, shot as he was driven to work

* Boris Svyatsky of 바카라사이트 Russian State Medical University, shot in 바카라사이트 chest and head as he walked to his office

* Andrei Brushlinsky, director of 바카라사이트 Russian Academy of Science Institute of Psychology, beaten to death.

In 바카라사이트 most recent case, Vladimir Fyodorov, a professor at Moscow State University, was found dead with multiple knife wounds to his chest in a one-room flat he rented close to 바카라사이트 college campus.

Authorities believe he may have committed suicide. His wife and colleagues said that a drinking problem, for which he had been receiving treatment, had worsened since he was assaulted and robbed in a park near 바카라사이트 university last year.