Van der Linden calls upon authorities of Belarus to abolish capital punishment
Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der Linden has called upon the authorities of Belarus to vacate death sentences to Syarhei Marozau, Ihar Danchenka and Valery Harbaty, who were sentenced to execution by the Supreme Court in 2006, the statement by the PACE head reads.
“I call upon president Lukashenka to vacate death sentences immediately,” stated the chairman of the PACE. Reminding that death is a failure of justice, he addressed Alyaksandr Lukashenka an appeal to set a moratorium for death penalty in Belarus, which would be a clear and resolute step in rapprochement of the country with the Council of Europe.
“Death can have no place in penal systems of modern civilized states. Readiness to introduce moratorium institute on execution of death sentences immediately and abolish death penalty is a necessary prerequisite for joining the organization,” Rene van der Linden said.
Belarus is not among the 47 states-members of the Council of Europe. Belarus’ status of the specially invited guest of the Parliamentary Assembly was suspended on January 13, 1997.
