EU ISSUES STATEMENT ON DEATH SENTENCES IN BELARUS

The EU has issued a statement saying it is “deeply concerned” that two men facing the death sentence in Belarus do not appear to have had a right to judicial appeal.
Dzmitry Kanavalaw and Uladzislaw Kavalyow were sentenced to death by the Supreme Court in Belarus on 30 November 2011.  
In a statement at the OSCE, the EU said it was deeply worried about reports from independent human rights organisations about possible irregularities relating to the trial of the two men.
 “We strongly urge the authorities of Belarus to commute these death sentences on Mr Kanavalaw and Mr Kavalyow immediately,” the statement continues, adding the EU “calls upon Belarus to introduce an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty with a view to its abolition”.
It said the EU opposed the use of capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances, and called for a global moratorium as a first step towards its universal abolition, in line with resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, 2008 and 2010.