Belarus
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · President Alexander Lukashenko has been sharply criticized...
- News items in the archive
- 243
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Belarus is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 243 news items on Belarus, from 1999 to today.
Belarus is the only European country that still carries out death sentences. The method is shooting. Neither the place of execution nor the place of burial is communicated to the families, who learn of it afterwards, in some cases from a certificate.
In recent years the country has widened the list of offences punishable by death. The archive follows sentences, executions and requests for a stay.
Latest news
NOVEMBER 25, 2024BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS OPPOSITION FEARS FOR FORMER UKRAINE VOLUNTEER EXTRADITED BY VIETNAM
Vietnam has extradited a prominent Belarusian opposition figure to Belarus where he faces a heavy prison sentence or possibly the death penalty, according to exiled opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko.
JULY 31, 2024BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO PARDONS GERMAN MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH ON TERRORISM CHARGES
Belarus’ authoritarian leader on July 30, 2024 granted a pardon to a German citizen who had been sentenced to death on terrorism charges.
- JULY 22, 2024GermanyDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: GERMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 'MERCENARY ACTIVITY'
The German Foreign Ministry confirmed on July 19, 2024 that a German national has been sentenced to death in Belarus and said Berlin was in intensive contact with authorities in Minsk over his fate.
- OCTOBER 22, 2023BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE MURDER OF HIS THREE-YEAR-OLD SON
The Minsk regional Court in Belarus on October 19, 2023 reportedly sentenced to death Alexander Taratuta, 48, for the murder of his three-year-old son Semyon
- MARCH 13, 2023BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS APPROVES DEATH PENALTY FOR OFFICIALS CONVICTED OF HIGH TREASON
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a law on 9 March 2023 allowing for the use of the death penalty against officials and army servicemen convicted of high treason, his office said.
FEBRUARY 22, 2023BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: LAWMAKERS APPROVE BILL ON DEATH PENALTY FOR HIGH TREASON
The Belarusian parliament's lower chamber, the House of Representatives, on 21 February 2023 approved the second and final reading of a bill that envisages the death penalty for high treason for civil servants and members of the military.
MAY 18, 2022BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO CHANGES DEATH PENALTY LAW TO TARGET OPPOSITION
Belarus has introduced the death penalty for planning an attack or "attempting an act of terrorism", according to a decree issued on 18 May 2022 — charges that target many opposition activists.
MAY 2, 2022BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: LOWER HOUSE APPROVE IMPOSITION OF DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISM
The lower house of the Belarusian parliament has approved Criminal Code amendments that introduce tougher punishments, ranging to the death penalty, for terrorism.
MARCH 13, 2022BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONDEMNS EXECUTION
The UN Human Rights Committee on 10 March 2022 condemned Belarus for its execution of Victor Pavlov, whose petition was still being examined by the Committee.
JUNE 14, 2021BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: DEATH ROW PRISONER VIKTAR PAULAU ‘MOST LIKELY EXECUTED’, CONVICT’S SISTER SAID
Death row inmate Viktar Paulau was ‘most likely executed’, the convict’s sister Raisa told Andrey Paluda, coordinator of the campaign ‘Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty in Belarus’.
MAY 5, 2021BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE FOR VIKTAR SKRUNDZIK
The Judicial Chamber on Criminal Case of the Supreme Court of Belarus has dismissed an appeal filed by death row prisoner Viktar Skrundzik, Human Rights Center "Viasna" reported on 4 May 2021.
MAY 3, 2021BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: LUKASHENKO PARDONS 2 BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Illya Kostseu (21) and Stanislau Kostseu (19), who were sentenced to death in January 2020, have been pardoned, human rights centre Viasna reported on 30 April 2021 with reference to the family.
- JANUARY 16, 2021BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: MAN RE-SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER RETRIAL
A court in Belarus on 15 January 2021 re-sentenced a man to capital punishment on murder charges, Minsk-based human rights center Viasna said.
JULY 2, 2020BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: IN RARE MOVE, SUPREME COURT CANCELS DEATH SENTENCE IN HIGH-PROFILE CASE
Belarus's Supreme Court has upheld the appeal of a death-row inmate and annulled his sentence in a murder case, a very rare move in the tightly controlled state led by autocratic President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
- MARCH 9, 2020BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SLUCK ON DOUBLE MURDER CHARGE
A new death sentence was handed down in Belarus on 6 March 2020 after a panel of judges of the Minsk Regional Court found Viktar Skrundzik, a 29-year-old resident of a village in the Sluck district, Minsk region, guilty of murdering two elderly people
FEBRUARY 4, 2020BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: KILLER GIVEN DEATH SENTENCE FOR BEHEADING BABY GIRL WITH KITCHEN KNIFE
The baby murderer who decapitated an eight-month old child will be shot in the back of the head by an executioner after losing his Supreme Court appeal.
- JANUARY 30, 2020BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: PARLIAMENT TO LOOK INTO DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
The Council of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus has decided to establish a working group on studying abolition of death penalty at the National Assembly.
JANUARY 12, 2020BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: FIRST DEATH PENALTIES OF 2020 HANDED DOWN
The Mogilev Regional Court sentenced two brothers, who were found guilty of committing a murder in a particularly violent manner, to the death penalty on 10 January 2020, the Human Rights Center Viasna said.
- JANUARY 1, 2020BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
- DECEMBER 27, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: LUKASHENKO ON PROSPECTS FOR ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
Retaining the death penalty helps maintain stability in the country and prevent the spread of banditry, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he gave an interview to editor-in-chief of the Ekho Moskvy radio station Aleksei Venediktov in Minsk on
DECEMBER 24, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: MAN EXECUTED FOR THE MURDER OF TWO WOMEN
Alexandre Ossipovitch, 37, a citizen for the town of Bobrouïsk, was executed in Belarus on 17 December 2019, the newspaper Kamertsyïny Kourier stated, quoting the regional prosecutor Olga Ivanova.
OCTOBER 28, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING TODDLER
A man was sentenced to death in Belarus for killing a toddler, despite repeated calls by the European Union for the abolition of the capital punishment in the only European country that still carries out the death penalty.
JULY 31, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: SECOND MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH THIS YEAR
A man was sentenced to death in Belarus for double murder on 31 July 2019 despite repeated calls by the European Union for the abolition of capital punishment in the only European country that still carries out executions.
JUNE 14, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: PRISONER EXECUTED FOR MURDER
Alexander Zhilnikov was executed in Belarus for the murder of three people.
MAY 15, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE IN DOUBLE-MURDER CASE
The Belarusian Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence for a man convicted of murdering two women, despite calls from the European Union for Minsk bring an end to capital punishment.
MAY 8, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS PUTS ON HOLD DEPORTATION OF FOREIGNER WHO MAY FACE DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN
A Minsk court has overturned the decision to deport Iranian citizen Merhdat Jamshidiyan who has spent 10 months in Belarusian prison. His case has been sent back for review.
- MARCH 28, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS - Two executed
In mid-May, two executions, of Viktar Liotau and Alyaksey Mikhalenia, have reportedly taken place in secret.
MARCH 18, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS ORDERS EXPULSION OF CHRISTIAN CONVERT FACING DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN
Belarusian authorities on 15 March 2019 ordered the expulsion of an Iranian man who has converted to Christianity and is wanted by Tehran for apostasy and alleged murder.
FEBRUARY 12, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYTHE MAJORITY OF BELARUSIANS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DEATH PENALTY (60%)
The share of Belarusians who support the use of the death penalty increased from 52% in 2016 to 60% in 2017, a poll by the Presidential Administration’s Information and Analytical Center showed.
JANUARY 10, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS COURT PASSES DEATH SENTENCE ON MURDERER OF TWO GIRLS
Alyaksandr Asipovich, 36-year-old, was sentenced to death on 9 January 2019 for the murder of two girls.