“Human Rights Defenders Against the Death Penalty” represent Belarus at barcamp in Kutaisi

For three days, the second capital of Georgia – Kutaisi – hosted an event that united guests from various non-governmental organizations of the South Caucasus, Belarus, Ukraine and other countries.

The Czech NGO “Nesehnuti” organized a BarCamp, an international series of conferences, created by its participants. The event was held at the State University of Kutaisi. The opening was attended by representatives of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Georgia, the Mayor of Kutaisi and Deputy Rector of University. Each of them delivered a welcoming speech.

Activities included sharing of experience on topics of democratic changes using technology and recycling. Participants also discussed monitoring trade in arms in Slovakia, the situation with the LGTB community in Azerbaijan and other topics.

Coordinator of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders Against the Death Penalty in Belarus” Andrei Paluda presented the activities of the Belarusian human rights activists to abolish the death penalty in Belarus. He told about the irreversible nature of the death penalty, the possibility of judicial errors, as well as the secrecy that exists around the capital punishment: relatives are not informed about the date of execution of the sentence and the burial place, which brings additional sufferings and is regarded as torture.

Belarus is the last country in Europe and the former Soviet Union, which still uses the death penalty.