At their 1487^th meeting, on 30 January 2024, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted a Declaration deploring the execution by nitrogen hypoxia of Mr Kenneth Eugene Smith, on 25 January, in the State of Alabama (United States of America). They reiterated their unequivocal opposition to the death penalty and called on States within the United States of America, an observer State to the Council of Europe, to establish a moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its abolition at all levels in the United States.

The Deputies discussed current political affairs and held exchanges of views with: 

• Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian democratic forces [more information …]. The Secretary General reported on the activities of the "Contact group", set up within the Council of Europe Secretariat, in co-operation with representatives of Belarusian democratic forces and civil society; and, recalling their previous decisions after the active participation of Belarus in the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the Deputies welcomed the successful implementation of co-operation activities with representatives of Belarusian democratic forces and civil society. 
• Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, the newly elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly, on the outcome of the 1^st part of the Assembly's 2024 Session (22-26 January 2024). 
• Ms Leyla Kayacik, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, on the report of her fact-finding mission to Bulgaria (11-14 September 2023) [more information …].

In addition, the Deputies took note of the annual activity report 2023 of the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance. 

The other items examined by the Deputies appear in the Agenda and the decisions adopted are available in the meeting file.