In this paper, we propose to discuss the last death sentence in Russia. Currently, this type of punishment is prohibited legally, which leads to an increase in the number of dangerous crimes. It is customary to commute a death sentence to life imprisonment.
In the article you will learn not only about the criminal life of the last executed, but also what will happen if the moratorium is lifted.
Death Penalty Moratorium
The last death sentence in Russia was carried out just a couple of weeks before its abolition. To familiarize yourself with this topic, you must refer to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the Criminal Code. The death penalty is the highest degree of punishment, which was sentenced to persons who committed terrible crimes or attempted on human life.
Currently, the death penalty is prohibited by the following document: protocol under number 6 and conditions-recommendations of PACE. This type of punishment is prohibited legally.
Reasons for the abolition of the death penalty
This type of punishment is not available for two reasons:
- signed protocol No. 6 (European Convention for the Protection of Inverters);
- presidential decree not to allow the death penalty.
As regards the first paragraph, the text states that one must not take a person’s life intentionally, with the exception of the death sentence. That is, by and large, the death penalty is allowed in the European Convention. But, due to the decree of the president, it remains inaccessible. This document prohibits the death penalty until a jury is established in all regions of the Russian Federation. The last death sentence in Russia was pronounced shortly before the moratorium was introduced (April 1997), which expired in January 2010. But, in 2009 it was extended until the protocol on the abolition of this punishment was ratified.
Revision of the type of punishment after lifting the moratorium
The last death sentence in Russia was carried out in 1996. But what will happen if the moratorium is lifted? Prisoners are not required, but they have the right to apply for clemency. It does not depend at all on whether the document was filed before the moratorium was introduced or not.
A death sentence can be executed in three cases:
- after the entry into force of a court sentence;
- rejection of the application by the president of the Russian Federation;
- non-application of pardon if the convicted person has not filed a motion.
It is also necessary to know that the new laws can both mitigate and worsen the punishment of prisoners.
The last death penalty in Russia
The last death sentence in Russia (September 2, 1996) was pronounced and executed in Butyrka by Sergei Golovkin. This citizen committed about 40 especially serious crimes (rape and murder of boys in the Moscow region). He conducted his criminal activities for 6 years. Two days before the capture of "Boa", the Rostov court issued a verdict to the worst and most dangerous criminal of the USSR Andrei Chikatilo.
Since similar crimes were carried out in two districts at once (Moscow and the Rostov region), employees of the USSR criminal investigation department were inclined to the following version: crimes are committed by one person who made flights between these two regions. Before the capture of "Boa", the offender was known by the nickname "Fisher".
Role-playing game
They pronounced the last death sentence in Russia on September 2, 1996, to a particularly dangerous serial killer and rapist Sergei Golovkin. The worst thing about these crimes was that Boa constituted himself a fascist, and his victim a guerrilla. For Golovkin, murder and torture is a kind of role-playing game.
The first crime he committed in 1982 near the camp "Romantic". Golovkin tracked down the boy and, under the threat of death, took him to the forest. There he tore off his clothes and hung on a tree with a rope loop. Fortunately, this time the victim remained alive and was able to describe the appearance of the criminal.
Witness
The following crimes the Boa constrictor, who was sentenced to the last death sentence in Russia, committed with more cruelty. The second victim is a teenager at Zvezdny camp in the Odintsovo district. He cut off the head of the boy and ripped open the abdominal cavity, cut off genitals were found next to the body in the bag.
The third victim was dismembered in the village of Zarechye. The crime was committed with great cruelty, because more than 30 knife wounds were found on the remains of a dissected body.
After three cases, an investigative-operational group was created in the Odintsovo police department to capture Golovkin, because it became clear that a serial especially dangerous criminal had appeared in the city. So they found the first witness in the Zvezdny pioneer camp, he claimed to have seen Boa, and he said his last name.
Fisher Version
The last death sentence in Russia was executed in 1996, the convict was called Sergey Golovkin. After the commission of three crimes, he "lay down" for several years. But this break was only "the calm before the storm."
We have already mentioned that a witness was found in the Zvezdny camp. So, this boy, unlike his friend, was able to escape from the criminal. He said that they had a conversation with him not far from the camp. Golovkin said that his name was Fisher, he had escaped from prison and was being sought by the police. The boy described the appearance and tattoo that he saw on his arm.
So police officers were able to identify about 6 thousand people prone to violence, and solve some crimes. But Golovkin remained at large.
Handwriting
The death sentence in Russia was last executed a few weeks before the abolition of the death penalty in the state.
During the “lull” Fisher bought a car and got a garage space on the territory of the Moscow stud farm, where he worked as a livestock specialist. Under him, he equipped a place of torture for his future victims.
So the criminal’s handwriting changed, he lured under various pretexts to his garage or picked up teenagers voting on the road. After the torture, Golovkin took the bodies to the “burial grounds”.
Taste of prey
Shortly before the last death sentence in Russia, Golovkin made a mistake in his miscalculations. He decided to taste the victim, and leave his head and skin as souvenirs.
During the forensic examination revealed that the offender used fodder salt to tan the skin. This clue led police officers to the stud farm.
Task Force Strengthening
The last death sentence in Russia was carried out on September 2, 1996. But how was the offender caught? After strengthening the task force, another terrible crime occurred. On September 15, 1992, three boys disappeared at once.
The detectives managed to find out that once they were driven in their new car by Uncle Seryozha, who works at the Moscow Stud Farm No. 1. Then the employees had no doubts. It is necessary to take the criminal, and urgently, until other children died in the "paws" of the serial killer.
Boa Detention
How to carry out detention if there is no evidence? Even round-the-clock monitoring of the maniac did not give any result.
I had to take it under Article 90 (10.19.92). Only after inspecting the garage he was accused under Art. 102 (October 30 of the same year). Golovkin indicated all the places of burial, some of the people were still listed as “missing” at that time. Golovkin admitted to killing only eleven children, which did not prevent him from being sentenced to the highest degree of punishment. The investigation was conducted until 1994, but it was not possible to prove the involvement of BoA in other crimes.
Puff
The last death sentence in Russia regarding Golovkin was executed in 1996, and a court decision was heard back in 1994. Why was the sentence not brought into effect earlier?
Boris Yeltsin for a long time ignored the petitions, but in anticipation of the signing of protocol No. 6, all the salaries (more than 100) were considered urgently. More than half rejected, and Golovkin’s petition was also taken here. The rest of the death penalty was replaced by life imprisonment or 25 years.