DONETSK, August 18 (RIA Novosti) – The death penalty was introduced in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) for the gravest crimes, the republic’s press center reported.
The first meeting of the Presidium of the DPR Council of Ministers was held on August 17. During this meeting, the Regulation on Military Courts and the Criminal Code of the DPR were approved.
The regulatory framework of the Russian Federation was taken as a basis of the Criminal Code of the republic, according to the press center.
"A legislative act provides for the death penalty for the gravest crimes," the republic’s statement said.
It is also noted that the system of military courts is to have two tiers. The lower tier includes courts-martial, which deal with crimes committed by military personnel of rank no higher than squadron commander. The top tier includes military tribunals that deal with offenses made by battalion commanders and those of higher rank. The DPR leadership believes that such a provision "would greatly facilitate the fight against looting and banditry" among its servicemen.
As DPR Foreign Minister Alexander Karaman said, once the war is over, the DPR will step "on the path of humanization of the criminal law."
