Mechyslau Hryb and Andrei Paluda hold a discussion on the death penalty
Students
and young people of Minsk took part in the discussion on the issue of
the death penalty. The event was held in Minsk on 8 October under the
sign of the "Week Against the Death Penalty", held by
"Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty".
Among
the discussion experts there were a honored lawyer of Belarus, former
Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus, Chairman
of the Commission on Human Rights of the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the Belarusian SSR (1994-1996 years) Mechyslau Hryb and the
coordinator of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders against the
Death Penalty" Andrei Paluda. Mechyslau Hryb told about hte
circumstances of the case of the Vitsebsk serial killer Mikhasevich,
in whose disclosure he actively participate, and said that 13 people
were unlawfully convicted on this case, one of them executed. He also
expressed his attitude to the death penalty.
By the way,
Mechyslau Hryb was one of the first to sign the Petition
against the death penalty, which has been singed more than 15,000
people already. The politician doesn't stay from this nagging topic
even now, taking part in various initiatives of the campaign. He has
taken part in the documentary "Cause of Death __".
The
campaign Coordinator Andrei Paluda told about the events that will
take place during the "Week against the Death Penalty".
Summing up the results of the discussion Andrei Paluda said:
"It's nice
that youths pay attention to this complex issue, it is very pleasant
to see many new faces here. It means that public information is
bringing its results. Youth is the future of Belarus – these people
will soon become lawyers, judges, builders, etc., and many things
will soon depend on them.”
The World Day against the Death
Penalty, marked annually on 10 October, was established in 2003 by
the World Coalition against the Death Penalty, which includes more
than 135 human rights organizations, bar associations, trade unions,
local and regional authorities.
