Urging Belarus to join a global moratorium on the death penalty

Statement by the EEAS Spokesperson on the confirmation of a death sentence in Belarus:

“The Supreme Court of Belarus on 29 March confirmed the death sentence against Ivan Kulesh, which had already been handed down by the Hrodna Regional Court in November 2015.

Mr Kulesh is guilty of serious crimes and we reiterate our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victims of these crimes.

Despite the seriousness of the acts, the European Union opposes capital punishment in all cases. It has proved to fail as a deterrent and it represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.

We urge Belarus, the only country in Europe which still applies capital punishment, to respect the right to life of each one of its citizens and to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its abolition.”