A 21-year-old resident of the town of Rechytsa (Homiel region) was sentenced to death, news agency BelaPAN reports.
On Wednesday Rechytsa District Court sentenced the man (Syarhei Ivanou – spring96.org), to death on charges of murder and rape of a 19-year-old girl on August 29, 2013.
The trial was held behind closed doors.
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On August 28, 2013 a victim, 19-year-old Alesya, was at a birthday party in a restaurant in Rechytsa. After the party the girl’s acquaintance said he would take her home. The next day Alesya was found dead. She had a number of visceral injuries; there were numerous marks of violence on her body.
The convict reportedly committed the crime under the influence of drugs and alcohol. When Alesya died, the murderer took her valuables.
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It is noteworthy that Belarus remains the only country in Europe that applies the capital punishment. In its statement on December 10, the International Human Rights Day, the EU condemned the death sentences imposed in Belarus in 2013 and urged its government to encourage a broader public discussion of the issue and immediately declare a moratorium on executions.
A high-profile case over the explosion in Minsk metro on April 11, 2011 is to be recalled: in March, 2012 Uladzislau Kavaliou and Dzmitry Kanavalau were put to death after being convicted of carrying out a terrorist attack.
The death verdict to the young men delivered by the Supreme Court of Belarus on November, 30, 2011 triggered a mixed reaction in society and drew attention to the death penalty issue once again. Mr Kanavalau admitted legality of the judgement and refused to lodge a petition for pardon but Mr Kavaliou denied his participation in organising three explosions and stated that in the course of investigation he had incriminated himself and Kanavalau acting under pressure of law enforcement officials.
The West has repeatedly urged to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its universal abolition.
