Wednesday, February 08, 2012

UPDATED: Belarus moving to abolish the death penalty

SEE item just in Feb 8-9 2012 EU Calls on Belarus to Introduce Moratorium on the Death Penalty here

"Belarus is the only country in Europe where in which death sentences are carried out. The requirement to abolish the death penalty or a moratorium on its use is a prerequisite for cooperation of the EU with the official Minsk."

(The wording in report below is somewhat confusing yet this should be clarified by more reports soon.) sounds like there's some controversy over this move?

and to release political prisoners...
Tue Feb 7, 2012 13:18
78.35.113.184

MINISTRY of FOREIGN AFFAIRS of Latvia: Belarus to abolish the death penalty and to release political prisoners
• February 6, 2012 10:41 am

The release of political prisoners and the abolition of the death penalty should be interested, above all, the representatives of the official Minsk. On the 4 February, said State Secretary of Latvia Andris Tejkmanis during the working visit to Belarus.

During the visit of Tejkmanis met with the Foreign Minister of Belarus Syarhei Martynau, head of President’s administration Makei and Transport Minister Ivan Ŝerbo. During the meeting, the representative of the MINISTRY of FOREIGN AFFAIRS of Latvia underlined that the authorities of Belarus and claiming the interest of the development of relations with the European Union, should be also interested in the release of all Belarusian political prisoners and a moratorium on the death penalty.

As reported BakuToday, belarus is the only country in Europe where in which death sentences are carried out. The requirement to abolish the death penalty or a moratorium on its use is a prerequisite for cooperation of the EU with the official Minsk.

We have informed the authorities of Latvia, loyal to the activities of neo-Nazi groups. MFA Latvia 3 February “strongly condemned” the ongoing State Central Museum of contemporary Russian history historical exhibition “Ugnannoe childhood: the fate of the children stolen at the territory of Latvia, 1943-1944.”.

Also be reminded that on February 18 in Latvia held a referendum on giving the public status of the Russian language. Most of the Latvian Saeima Andris Berzins and oppose the advancement of Russian language in the Republic.

http://www.bakutoday.net/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-of-latvia-belarus-to-abolish-the-death-penalty-and-to-release-political-prisoners.html

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Also see Amnesty's work as late as last year to call on Belarus to Abolish the DP

And view: Capital punishment in Belarus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaLegislation · Method · Number of executions · Public opinion"in the strongest possible terms the executions in Belarus and deplores the fact that Belarus is currently the only country in Europe where the death penalty is enforced here

1 comment:

CN said...

Plz help prevent and stop extra-judicial killing worldwide:

This universal action is the state of the art for such actions from a really savvy and compassionate group and about a crucial issue of our time. YET, it pertains to those of us in Human Rights as well. Many of us are as concerned about extra-judicial and random killings as we are about the state death penalties.

http://act.350.org/sign/help_nasheed/?akid=1576.562813.lrQgr0&rd=1&t=2UPDATE

(Feb 8, 2012 ,13:50 UTC):

President Nasheed, a World Hero and his supporters, held protests against the coup today, and we've just received reports that he has been arrested (and possibly released again, but injured) and many others have been injured and possibly 4 killed.

Please sign this recommending world leaders and all who care about human rights and the needs of the planet do ALL we can to keep this hero safe - NONVIOLENTY, of course.