The Committee of Ministers, which had firmly condemned the terrorist attack in the Minsk Metro on 11 April 2011, deplores that the Belarusian authorities despite the numerous calls for clemency from the international community, including the Committee of Ministers’ own statement of 7 December 2011, executed Dimitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev, following their sentencing to death.

The Committee of Ministers reiterates its position that justice cannot be achieved through the death of further human beings. In proceeding with these executions – a punishment which is irreversible and irreparable – the Belarusian authorities ignored one of the basic values of the Council of Europe, the respect for human life. Such actions run counter to our common objective to bring Belarus closer to the Council of Europe.

The Committee of Ministers strongly urges Belarus to establish a formal moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition of the death penalty.

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