Alena Laptsionak: the death penalty is the murder on behalf of the state
Human rights activists
announce a "Week against the death penalty". The
culmination of the week will be 10 October, the World Day against the
Death Penalty. On that day a press-conference with the relatives of
death convicts, and some other events will take place. Belarus is the
only country in Europe where the death penalty is still used. A
member of the Human Rights Center “Viasn” Alena Laptsionak paid a
visit to our studio.
RR: Belarus is the only country
in Europe where such kind of punishment as the death penalty
is used. Is Belarus ready to refuse from the death penalty?
Alena
Laptsionak: When we ask whether “Belarus is ready”, we
need to understand that we mean, first of all, the state, the
country's leadership. Now there are no obstacles for abolishing the
death penalty or introducing a moratorium on it. However, there is no
political will for it either.
in order to abolish the death
penalty or a moratorium . But do not have the political will.
RR:
The campaign "Human Rights Defenders against the Death
Penalty" has been held long enough... I think that
there is progress in the fact that Belarusians are starting to
realize that this kind of penalty does not meet humane
standards.
Alena Laptsionak: It's hard to talk about the
opinion of the majority of Belarusians. This topic is raised only by
independent media and human rights defenders. That's why sometimes
people think that it is necessary only for human rights defenders,
whereas our task is to raise a discussion in the society, a wide
discussion with the participation of the state institution and media.
RR: But the very issue of the death penalty is not
that wide. It concerns a person who commits a crime and is
punished for it. Why should I, an ordinary person, care?
Alena
Laptsionak: It is the question of life and death – a deeply
philosophical one. THe death penalty is the murder on behalf
of the state. And if we demand to execute the killer who committed
the murder, are were better than him? It is necessary to think about
it. Very often supporters of the death penalty say, "What if a
member of your family was killed?" First of all, it is
incorrect. And secondly, why do you propose to take the role of the
victim , not the role of the convicted ? Or the role of the
executioner who carries out the sentence ? Let's take the place of
the executor and take the gun in your hands... Would you do it?
RR:
As it is stated in the plans of the “Week against the death
penalty”, a website will start working and topical
discussions will be held in Minsk and the regions... Hence ,
human rights activists realize that there is too little
information on this topic in the society nowadays. Is
the issue of the death penalty rational or emotional?
Alena
Laptsionak: We again return to the question, that in the case of the
death penalty a muder on behalf of the state takes place, and the
state is devoid of emotion.
RR: After the execution by
shooting of Uladzislau Kavaliou and Dzmitry Kanavalau, the issue of
the death penalty spread inthe society, as far as the people who
watched the court proceedings, couldn't understand whether these
people had really committed it and the courty system could be
trusted.
Alena
Laptsionak: If we take that big case, from the very beginning
the authorities started to show how fast they disclosed the case.
However, there were many inconsistencies, and that even among the
victims there were many people who did not believe that those two
people were involved in this crime, and raised this wave. The
evidence base was weak . But they were shot ... and everything got
quite after it.
RR: How would you assess the present
discussion about the death penalty in the society?
Alena
Laptsionak: At present this topic is raised by independent media, but
these are non-state media, whereas we strive for a discussion at all
levels.
Radio
“Racyja”
