BELARUS: DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION DELAYED
The question of abolishing the death penalty in Belarus remains open, Chairman of the Constitutional
The question of abolishing the death penalty in Belarus remains open, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus Petr Miklashevich told a news conference in Minsk.
Belarus remains the only country in Europe that still uses the death penalty and is frequently a target of Western criticism because of this.
"The question remains open," Miklashevich said, adding that the inclusion in Belarusian law of the death penalty is a temporary and exceptional measure. He also said that the Constitutional Court had earlier explained that a moratorium on the death penalty could be introduced by a decision of the president and parliament.
"The policy of the Constitutional Court is to withhold any comments on the issue until it has been requested to support a moratorium on the abolition of the death penalty," he said.
Belarus remains the only country in Europe that still uses the death penalty and is frequently a target of Western criticism because of this.
"The question remains open," Miklashevich said, adding that the inclusion in Belarusian law of the death penalty is a temporary and exceptional measure. He also said that the Constitutional Court had earlier explained that a moratorium on the death penalty could be introduced by a decision of the president and parliament.
"The policy of the Constitutional Court is to withhold any comments on the issue until it has been requested to support a moratorium on the abolition of the death penalty," he said.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: RAPSI, 23/01/2013)