News on the topic: death penalty
21.05.2014 The case of Ivan Famin: Innocently executed
In 1998, the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, which was then called “Viasna-96”, received a complaint from the mother of Ivan Famin, who was sentenced to death. The woman gave the human rights defenders several letters that were written on death row and were passed through so called prison mail.
15.05.2014 URGENT ACTION OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL!
Belarus executes second prisoner this year. At least two men remain on death row at imminent risk of execution. Amnesty International appeals to write to Belarusian authorities to call them to abolish death penalty.
12.05.2014 Another execution in Belarus: court verdict against Ryhor Yuzepchuk carried out
Mahilyou regional court informed that Ryhor Yuzepchuk has been executed. 45-year-old man was sentenced to death for killing his cellmate. The cellmate allegedly gambled away his life in domino game.
02.05.2014 Andrei Paluda: retention of the death penalty in Belarus seriously affects its status
Coordinator of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders against Death Penalty in Belarus” Andrei Paluda and Liubou Kavaliova participated in the events devoted to the 5th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership programme that took place in late April in Prague.
25.04.2014 Amnesty International: Death row prisoner executed in secret
Amnesty International strongly condemns the execution of death row prisoner, Pavel Selyun, in Belarus and the way it was communicated with total disregard for the rights of his family. According to the Belarusian NGO, Human Rights Centre Viasna, he was executed some time over the Easter period. He had appealed to President Lukashenka for clemency. Pavel Selyun’s mother was not informed that clemency had been denied to her son, nor that he was due to be executed, in violation of international standards.
25.04.2014 Miklós Haraszti: Halt further executions
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklós Haraszti, has urged the Belarusian authorities to impose an immediate moratorium on death sentences and to refrain from carrying out further executions.
23.04.2014 Ashton condemns latest execution in Belarus
The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, has issued a statement to condemn the execution of Pavel Sialiun, Radio Liberty's Belarus service reports.
18.04.2014 “In the name of the Republic of Belarus”: Pavel Sialiun executed
Death convict Pavel Sialiun is said to have been executed one of these days. Meanwhile, his complaint is still pending before the UN Human Rights Committee. This means that Belarus has once again breached its international obligations.
17.04.2014 Death convict Aliaksandr Hrunou files supervisory appeal and petition for clemency
Aliaksandr Hrunou notes that when sentencing him to death the court failed to consider number of mitigating circumstances, including his sincere repentance, complete confession and voluntary cooperation with the investigation, as well as the illegal and immoral actions by the victim, Natallia Yemialiyanchykava.
17.04.2014 Supreme Court upholds death sentence to Eduard Lykau
The man was found guilty of five murders. He committed the first two in 2002. However, the investigation found about it only in 2011, when he was detained for the last, fifth murder. Lykau confessed the previous crimes himself and cooperated with the investigation.
17.04.2014 Supreme Court dismisses appeal of Kavaliou's relatives
According to the responce signed by Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court Andrei Zabara, the decisions of the Kastrychnitski District Court of Minsk and the Civil Division of the Minsk City Court according to which the consideration of such appeals is beyond their powers are left in force.
10.04.2014 UN Human Rights Committee registered Aliaksandr Hrunou's communication
April 8, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence to a 25-year-old resident of Homel Aliaksandr Hrunou. On this occasion, he appealed to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations.
10.04.2014 Viktar Adzinochanka: Lukashenka's statement influenced the verdict on Hrunou's case
Homel resident Aliaksandr Hrunou was repeatedly sentenced to death. The representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Homel, candidate of phylosophical sciences Viktar Adzinochanka commented on the verdict, issued by the Supreme Court of Belarus on April 8.
10.04.2014 Brest resident to be punished for picket against quick execution of death sentences
The action, which was attended by Dzmitry Rabtsevich, took place on 28 March, when he went into the city center with a banner on which was written "No toFast Executions" and "Life or Death".
09.04.2014 Mikhail Hladki: 8 years in jail for nothing, no compensation provided
In 2003, Mikhail Hladki was sentenced to 8 year of imprisonment for allegedly killing his brother. He served almost the whole prison term before it was found that the real killer was Eduard Lykau, who is now kept in the Minsk remand prison after being sentenced to death.
