Minsk Bomber's Mother Appeals For Son's Life

One of the condemned men, Uladzislau Kavalyou, in the dock during the Minsk trial

MINSK -- The mother of one of the two men condemned to death in Belarus over a deadly subway bombing has formally appealed to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to spare her son's life.

Liubou Kavalyova, mother of defendant Uladzislau Kavalyou, filed a request for clemency with Lukashenka's office on December 1, one day after Kavalyou and Dzmitry Kanavalau were convicted and sentenced.

The verdict drew international criticism.

Kavalyova also requested an opportunity to visit her son in jail.

Backgrounder on Belarus and the death penalty

Organizers claim nearly 50,000 people have signed an online petition drive against executing the men.

Belarus is the only nation in Europe to still carry out state executions.

based on RFE/RL and agency reports