Olga Tereshchenko

The death penalty is prohibited in most of (135) civilized countries. The highest sentence has still been in force in 58 countries. These are mainly Asian and African countries, including developing countries such as the UAE, USA, Syria, Singapore, Japan. Belarus is the only one European country that has not banned the death penalty yet.

Article 3 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to life, liberty and person security. Article 6 the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights declares that the right to life is an integral part of every person. This right is protected by law and no one can be arbitrarily deprived of life.

Independent Ukraine inherited from Soviet power The Criminal Code that was put into effect on April 1, 1961, which provided the death penalty as a form of punishment.

On December 29, 1999, the death penalty was declared unconstitutional by a decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. The Court stated that the right to life enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine is absolute and respect for the human life value, one of the fundamental principles to build a legal, democratic society. The inherent right of every person to life is inextricably combined with his or her right to human dignity. The death penalty does not meet the purpose of punishment - it makes impossible to correct the consequences of the crime. For instance the possibility of a judicial error.

The death penalty is not one of the factors that deter crime. This is confirmed by criminological research: the number of crimes against human life does not decrease with the increase in death sentences. For almost 40 years (since the entry into force of the Criminal Code - April 1, 1961), the number of premeditated murders has increased despite the use of an exceptional punishment. This means that the crime prevention as the death penalty just has not justified itself.

The actual abolition of the death penalty in Independent Ukraine occurred in February 2000 after ratification of Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Protocol entered into force in 2003. Over the course of the article, 612 prisoners were officially executed in Ukraine.

In 2001, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a new Criminal Code, in which the death penalty was replaced to life imprisonment. Despite improvements in search and other crime prevention methods. The development of international cooperation, the political determination of the state - politicians raise the issue of the death penalty renewal

On September 25, 2017, a petition was released to renew the death penalty. It got only 118 signatures.

On June 23, 2019, Igor Shevchenko, the former Minister of Ecology, initiated to renew the petition and to re-establish the death penalty for particularly serious crimes and garnered 20071 votes from the 25,000 required.

Yves Kruechten, rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, said: "A higher degree of punishment is terrible and inhuman punishment that is no longer acceptable in Europe."

Independent Ukraine went the hard way to abolish the death penalty at 9, and before that, it had a difficult bloody history of struggle. During the Soviet era, tens of thousands of the best representatives of the Ukrainian nation were secretly killed in the cellars of the KGB (SSC), for which no one has yet answered.

Nature has given everyone the right to life. This right is inalienable and absolute, and is outlined in the commandments of God in the formula "Thou shalt not kill." It is a violation not only of rights but also of faith and morality. And the ancient principle of Talion - will leave us not only without our eyes, but also without our heads.

Olga Tereshchenko, Ukrainian International Lawyer

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.