Human rights defender Sudalenka on MFA’s statement: “You’ll never share someone’s opinion, unless you implement your obligations”
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- Homel human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka
The UN Human Rights Committee’s statement on Belarus’ violations of its international obligations by executing two death sentences is “injurious”, Belarusian MFA spokesperson Andrei Savinykh said on 28 July.
Homel human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka commented on the Foreign Ministry’s statement, saying that he can only agree with Mr. Savinykh on Belarus’ failure to ratify the 2nd Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
“As for the country’s international obligations in general, the official is to use the mildest term being sly. Belarus had no right to execute the death sentences while the death convicts’ complaints were being considered by the UN Human Rights Committee”, says Mr. Sudalenka.
Leanid Sudalenka stresses that the MFA’s statement failed to mention the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, which was ratified by Belarus and enforced the Committee’s authority to admit and consider communications from persons who argue that the country violated one of the rights provided by the Covenant.
“I am sure that the UN Human Rights Committee took urgent measures concerning the death convicts’ complaints and informed the Belarusian government on the necessity to suspend the executions. However, the sentences have been executed, for which Belarus has been justly criticized by the United Nations bodies”, says the human rights defender.
