BELARUS: EXECUTION OF ALYAKSANDR SYARHEYCHYK

Amnesty International and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee condemn the reported recent execution of Alyaksandr Syarheychyk by the Belarusian authorities. Alyaksandr Syarheychyk was found guilty of murder, rape, theft of firearms and other crimes on 22 May 2007 and sentenced to death. Amnesty International and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee are urging the Belarusian authorities to immediately clarify, in writing, the details of Alyaksandr Syarheychyk's case, emphasising that if he has been executed, his relatives should have received full access to information including the dates and places of execution and burial, and have been allowed to collect the prisoner's remains and any personal effects. In accordance with UN resolution 2005/59, adopted on 20 April 2005, the UN Commission on Human Rights calls upon all states that still maintain the death penalty "to make available to the public information with regard to the imposition of the death penalty and to any scheduled execution."