Key to Europe becoming a death penalty free area lies in Belarus, say participants at Minsk conference

On behalf of the Council of Europe, Alexandre Guessel, Director of Political Affairs, noted positive developments in Belarus – Council of Europe relations, in particular the increased co-operation and the adoption of the Action Plan for 2016-2017. He stressed that the key to the European continent becoming a death penalty free zone lies in Belarus, and reiterated the appeal of the Council of Europe to the country’s authorities to impose a moratorium on capital punishment, as the first step towards abolition of death penalty. Guessel argued that while public opinion is important, the issues related to death penalty should not be decided in a referendum. More...