Two European MPs demand abolishment of death sentence to Kanavalau and Kavaliou
MEPs Laima Andrikiene
and Eduard Kukan in their joint statement have deplored the unfair trial of
both Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou and urgently called on President
Lukashenka to establish an immediate moratorium of their death penalty. They
have stressed the growing urgency for this, as both condemned can be executed
now at any moment without warning, after their appeal for clemency had been
rejected.
The
Belarusian Supreme Court has sentenced Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou to death, both accused of committing a terrorist act
in the Minsk
metro on April 11 2011. An explosion killed 15 people and wounded more than 200
others: "I strongly deplore the decision of the Belarusian court which has
condemned Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou to death. The guilt of these two young men has not
been proven and even relatives of the victims have serious doubts that Kanavalau
and Kavaliou are guilty of committing this crime", said Lithuanian MEP
Laima Andrikiene.
The death sentence has caused a large wave of discontent and criticism in the
European Union.
After the meeting with Uladzislau Kavaliou’s mother, Laima
Andrikiene said: "The guilt of these young people and their
participation in the terrorist act has not been proven."
According to Amnesty International, convicted men and their relatives stressed
that both convicts had been tortured (heavily beaten) during interrogation.
"The trial in Minsk
and the death sentences of Kanavalau and Kavaliou do not meet international
standards and are illegal", highlighted Laima Andrikiene MEP.
Mrs Andrikiene also noted that the EU has a very strong position on the death
penalty as an absolutely unacceptable way of punishment for any crime
committed. Belarus remains
the only country in Europe which has the death
penalty and still carries out executions.
According to www.eduardkukan.eu
