New Criminal Code Abolishes Death Penalty
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President Leonid D. Kuchma has signed a new criminal code that formally abolishes Ukraine’s death penalty, putting it in line with most European countries.
The legislation was approved by parliament last month. Kuchma signed it Friday, and the new code takes effect June 1.
The new code sets life imprisonment as the nation’s maximum punishment. People under 18 and over 65 and women who were pregnant when they committed a crime or during sentencing are not subject to life terms.
Ukraine promised to abolish the death penalty when it joined the Council of Europe in 1995, and it put a moratorium on executions in 1997.
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