European Union condemns new death verdicts in Belarus

The European Union condemned the new death sentences that the Mogiliov court of Belarus passed to brothers Ilya and Stanislav Kostev. The EU website reports.

"The death penalty violates the inalienable right to life, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is the highest cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. The death verdicts cannot serve as a deterrent to crime. Justice errors are irreversible," the EU said.

It is reported that on January 10, 2020, the Mogiliov Regional Court of Belarus issued two death sentences to brothers Ilya and Stanislav Kostev.

The EU also noted that 3 sentences were carried out last year, and only 4 people are now in the death line.

“The introduction of a moratorium on the death penalty in Belarus will be the 1st positive step towards abolishing the death verdicts,” the EU added.

Belarus is currently the only country in Europe that has the death penalty. And in May 2019, the Council of Europe called on the state to abolish the death penalty.

As we reported, European Union condemns the death penalty in Belarus, due to the execution of the death penalty for two people

Belarus: Statement by the Spokesperson on new death verdicts

Brussels, 11/01/2020 - 09:24, UNIQUE ID: 200111_1

Statements by the Spokesperson

On 10 January 2020, the Mahilyow Regional Court in Belarus pronounced two death sentences for brothers Ilya and Stanislav Kostev.

These two further death sentences come on top of the three death sentences passed in 2019. Three death sentences were carried out last year and a total of four individuals are now on "death row".

Recalling the 2016 Council Conclusions which condemned the application of death penalty in Belarus, the European Union reaffirms its strong opposition against the application of capital punishment in any circumstance.

The death penalty violates the inalienable right to life enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. Capital punishment also fails to act as a deterrent to crime. Miscarriages of justice are irreversible.

Introducing a moratorium on executions in Belarus would be a positive first step towards the abolition of the death penalty.

Source: 112.international, Staff, January 12, 2020

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