Reacting to the reported execution in Belarus of Syarhei Ivanou and a 6 May Supreme Court ruling upholding the death sentence against Syarhei Khmyaleuski, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), again called on Belarus to introduce an immediate moratorium on executions, as a step towards complete abolition of the death penalty.
“I am extremely concerned by reports of another execution in Belarus – of Syarhei Ivanou – and by the confirmation of the death sentence against Syarhei Khmyaleuski by the Supreme Court,” the ODIHR Director said on May 9. “It is clear that by abolishing the death penalty, most OSCE participating States have recognized the inherently cruel, inhuman and degrading nature of capital punishment.”
The execution of Syarhei Ivanou goes against the ongoing discussions in Belarus and the growing international trend towards the abolition of a punishment that represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity, Director Link said.
Earlier, the European Union released a statement in connection with the implementation of the death penalty sentence in Belarus in regard to Syarhei Ivanou (he committed a brutal murder), as well as upholding the death sentence of Mr Khmyaleuski (he killed 3 people).
The case of Syarhei Ivanou is ‘of particular concern’ in light of the fact that his complaint was under consideration by the Human Rights Committee at the United Nations, the EU statement reads.
