The Committee of Ministers deeply deplores the execution of Mr Alyaksandr Zhylnikau, announced on 13 June 2019.

It calls on the Belarussian authorities not to carry out the execution of Mr Vyachaslau Sukharko, condemned for the same crime as Mr Alyakasandr Zhylnikau.

The Committee of Ministers reaffirms its unequivocal opposition to the death penalty and reiterates its strong call on Belarus to establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition of the death penalty.

The Committee of Ministers remains ready to assist the Belarussian authorities to promote a public debate on the issues relating to the full abolition of the death penalty, as foreseen in the Belarussian Constitution.