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
JUNE 11, 2014BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: FOREIGN MINISTER, ‘SOCIETY NOT READY TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY’
in an interview posted on the ministry's official website, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey said Belarusian
MAY 14, 2014BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: CONVICTED MURDERER REPORTEDLY EXECUTED
Media reports in Belarus say a convicted murderer has been executed.
- APRIL 18, 2014BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: CONVICTED MURDERER EXECUTED
Belarus has executed a man convicted of a gruesome double murder, a rights group said, the latest case of capital punishment in the ex-Soviet country.
APRIL 8, 2014BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE DEATH PENALTY
In 2013, non-governmental organisation Penal Reform International commissioned a detailed survey of
- JANUARY 1, 2014BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
DECEMBER 17, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: ACTIVISTS SAY AUTHORITIES HIDING INFORMATION ON DEATH PENALTIES
The Minsk regional court has said that a man it sentenced to death last month is a Moscow-
OCTOBER 22, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS DEATH VERDICT
In Belarus, the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court considered today an appeal filed
- OCTOBER 14, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: LUKASHENKO FULLY JUSTIFIES DEATH PENALTY
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko fully justifies the use of the death penalty in his country
OCTOBER 9, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS UNDER FIRE FOR DEATH PENALTY
People in Belarus are forced to live in a climate of fear because "politically-guided" courts
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS CONFIRMS DEATH FOR DOUBLE MURDERER
The Supreme Court of Belarus confirmed the death sentence for a man convicted of killing two people last year after police caught him transporting a decapitated head from one of the bodies.
- JUNE 14, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTY
A court in the southeastern Belarusian city of Homel handed down the country's
A court in the southeastern Belarusian city of Homel handed down the country's
- JUNE 12, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTY
A court in the western Belarusian city of Hrodna sentenced a 23-year
A court in the western Belarusian city of Hrodna sentenced a 23-year
APRIL 30, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS HANDS DOWN FIRST DEATH PENALTY THIS YEAR
A Belarusian court has handed down the first death penalty this year, the Mogilyov Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.
- JANUARY 23, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION DELAYED
The question of abolishing the death penalty in Belarus remains open, Chairman of the Constitutional
- JANUARY 1, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
- OCTOBER 18, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: PARLIAMENT WORKING GROUP ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT STILL ACTIVE
The working group set up by the National Assembly of Belarus to look into the capital punishment issue has
MARCH 20, 2012RussiaDEATH PENALTYRUSSIA CALLS ON MINSK TO JOIN MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Russia wants all European countries including Belarus to join the moratorium on the death penalty
- MARCH 19, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
UN HUMAN RIGHTS PANEL DEPLORES BELARUS EXECUTION
The United Nations Human Rights Committee voiced grave concern over the execution in Belarus of a person whose case was under its consideration after he was found guilty of last year’s bombing of a subway in the capital, Minsk.
MARCH 18, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: MINSK METRO BOMBERS EXECUTED
state news agency BelTA reported Belarus executed Vladislav Kovalyov and Dmitry Konovalov, the two men sentenced to death for their role in the 2011 Minsk subway blast.
MARCH 14, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO DENIES SUBWAY BOMBERS CLEMENCY
Belarus' president has denied clemency to two men sentenced to death for last
- MARCH 6, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
the Belarusian Helsinki Committee reported that in January 2012, Belarus executed Igor Myalik.
the Belarusian Helsinki Committee reported that in January 2012, Belarus executed Igor Myalik.
FEBRUARY 13, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTYEU ISSUES STATEMENT ON DEATH SENTENCES IN BELARUS
The EU has issued a statement saying it is “deeply concerned” that two men facing
- JANUARY 25, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT READY TO REVIEW ITS POSITION ON DEATH PENALTY
The Constitutional Court of Belarus may clarify its position on the death penalty if
- JANUARY 1, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
DECEMBER 9, 2011BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: APPEAL FOR CLEMENCY
Vladislav Kovalyov, one of the two men sentenced to death in Belarus for bombing a metro
DECEMBER 6, 2011BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: ITALY'S FOREIGN MINISTER TERZI ASKS FOR SUSPENSION OF EXECUTIONS
Italy's Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi asked Belarus to suspend the death sentences of the two
- DECEMBER 1, 2011BelarusDEATH PENALTY
ASHTON CONDEMNS DEATH SENTENCES IN BELARUS
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton strongly condemned two new death sentences in Belarus.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2011BelarusDEATH PENALTY
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: BELARUS URGED TO INTRODUCE A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
The Council of Europe urged Belarus not to execute two men found guilty of carrying out
- NOVEMBER 30, 2011BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR METRO BOMBING
A court in Belarus sentenced two men to death for carrying out a bomb attack at a metro station in central Minsk which killed 15 people and wounded scores of others.
- JULY 27, 2011BelarusDEATH PENALTY
UN COMMITTEE SAYS EXECUTIONS IN BELARUS VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS
the United Nations Human Rights Committee accused Belarus of violating