The defendant had been already convicted of murder during the Soviet era. At that time he was sentenced to death, but after he lodged a complaint to the Supreme Court, the death sentence was changed to the imprisonment. As there was no life imprisonment in the Soviet Union, the term of imprisonment was no more than 15 years.
On 5 January Henadz Yakavitski was found guilty of murder. Public prosecution in the court was represented by the official of the Minsk region public prosecutor’s office. He asked the court to passed the death penalty sentence for the defendant. The court agreed with the state prosecutor.
EU reiterates its call on Belarus to impose moratorium on death penalty
In a statement of the European Union External Action’ spokesperson Maja Kocijancic, published on the website of the EU Delegation in Belarus, it is emphasized that Henadz Yakavitski’s legal right to appeal his sentence should be fully guaranteed
“Mr. Yakavitski was convicted of a serious crime and we extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victim,” – the statement says. “Nevertheless, the European Union is opposed to capital punishment in all cases and without exception.”
“We urge Belarus, the only country in Europe still applying capital punishment, to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as the first step towards its abolition. Commuting the sentences of persons sentenced to death and launching a public debate on the death penalty with Belarusian society would be an important move in this regard.” – is noted in the document.
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This is the first death sentence in Belarus passed this new year.Last year, the resident of Lida District Ivan Kulesh was found guilty of the murder of three people, as well as attempted murder, theft, robbery and sentenced to the capital punishment. Siarhei Ivanou, who was convicted for the brutal murder of a girl last year, is now on the death row on Valadarsky street in Minsk.
In the history of independent Belarus 406 death sentences were passed. Only one convict was pardoned by the president.
Belarus – the only country in Europe and in the former Soviet Union region, which still has the death penalty.
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