Accessibility links

Breaking News

Russia Calls On Belarus To Join Death-Penalty Moratorium


Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called on Belarus to join the rest of Europe and impose a moratorium on the death penalty.

Lavrov's comments came just days after the Belarusian government executed two men who were convicted for the bombing of a Minsk subway station nearly one year ago that killed 15 people.

Belarus has faced international criticism over the weekend about the executions, amid questions about evidence in the case and concerns about the legal rights of the men who were executed -- Uladzislau Kavalyou and Dzmitry Kanavalau.

Lavrov told Kommersant FM radio that the Russian government is committed to a death-penalty moratorium and wants to see all European countries, including Belarus, join it.

Belarus is the only country in Europe that still practices capital punishment.

With RIA Novosti and ITAR-TASS reports

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG