BELARUS: LUKASHENKO URGES TO REVISIT DEATH PENALTY ISSUE

The issue of capital punishment in Belarus should be revisited, said President Alexander Lukashenko at the Forth All Belarus People’s Congress.
The President stressed that this should not be considered as playing into the hands of the West. There are strong preconditions for non-use of capital punishment. The crime rate has reduced considerably. However, when making a final decision we need to take public opinion into account.
The President also said that over 80% of Belarusian people supported the use of capital punishment in a referendum. And if the country considers itself a state for people, it should not go against the will of people. The President also stressed that those who criticize Belarus on this issue use double standards. These people ignore the fact that capital punishment is applied in such countries as the United States and China.
The President added that Belarus should also concentrate on humanization of criminal law and legislation on administrative offences. The President believes that in a year or two this process will be completed.