Strasbourg, 17 March 2012 - Responding to the news of the execution of Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalyov, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland said today he was deeply saddened by yet another execution in Belarus.

On Thursday Mr Jagland condemned President Lukashenko’s decision not to pardon Konovalov and Kovalyov, who were sentenced to death in November 2011 in the Minsk subway bombing case.

Belarus is the only country in Europe which still executes people. With its disrespect of basic human rights and democratic standards, the government of Belarus is increasingly isolating its country and its people from the rest of the world,” said Mr Jagland.

Press release

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