A death sentence
was handed down last week to Mr Henadz Yakavitski by the Minsk Regional Court
of the Republic of Belarus.
Mr Henadz Yakavitski's legal right to appeal
should be fully guaranteed. Mr Yakavitski was convicted of a serious crime and
we extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victim.
Nevertheless, the European Union is opposed to
capital punishment in all cases and without exception. We urge Belarus, the
only country in Europe still applying capital punishment, to join a global
moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its abolition.
Commuting the sentences of persons sentenced to death and launching a public
debate on the death penalty with Belarusian society would be an important move
in this regard.
No comments:
Post a Comment