Vietnam’s National Assembly has approved amendments to the penal code that eliminate the death penalty for eight offenses, including espionage and attempts to overthrow the government.
The changes, announced by state media on Wednesday, are scheduled to take effect in July.
Under the revised law, the number of crimes punishable by death will decrease from 18 to 10. Offenses that will no longer carry the death penalty include:
-
Espionage
-
Attempting to overthrow the government
-
Disruption of peace
-
Destruction of national security documents
-
Production or trade of counterfeit food or medicines
-
Theft with serious consequences
-
Bribery and certain forms of corruption
-
Additional specified non-violent crimes
The government has not announced any plans to fully abolish capital punishment, which remains in effect for crimes such as murder, terrorism, and large-scale drug trafficking.
Vietnam continues to carry out executions by lethal injection, though the government does not regularly release official figures on the number of executions or death sentences issued.