Deputy Speaker of the Duma from the Yabloko faction Vladimir Lukin does not agree with the idea that the composition of the Pardoning Commission under the President of the RF should be changed. In an interview with journalists on Friday, July 13, 2001, he noted that it would be "very strange if after speaking in favour of abolishing the death penalty the President would replace or considerably dilute with bureaucracy the present Commission that today includes highly respected public figures headed by Anatoli Pristavkin, a talented and bright individual."

Lukin also noted that " bureaucrats are not allowed to have their own independent opinions, they may only express the views of the President, which they may also not know, as it transpires."

"Today I do not want to speak about the figures demonstrating the
number of those pardoned, as the members of the Commission should, in my opinion, be interested in the fate of each specific individual rather than percentage figures and take decisions separately on each case, carefully and after studing all the circumstances of the case," added Lukin.

Based on Interfax reports.