Vitsebsk human rights defenders disseminate materials against death penalty
Vitsebsk human rights defenders marked the World Day against the Death Penalty by posting stickers with the text “We Are against the Death Penalty” in the city. They also handed out relevant informational production in the center of the city. According to the website “Vitsebsk Viasna”, printed editions were also thrown into postboxes in some houses.
Among the information that was spread by the human rights activists there was the decision of the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations concerning the death sentence to the Vitsebsk resident Uladzislau Kavaliou in 2012. The appropriate appeal to the Human Rights Committee was filed by the mother and sister of the convicted person.
The Committee repeatedly asked the Belarusian authorities not to implement the sentence until the case is considered but these requests were ignored. According to the decision of the HRC, Belarus violated a number of article of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in respect to Uladzislau Kavaliou, including Article 6 – the right to life.
