The Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement today:
“I deeply regret another death sentence delivered on 5 January by Minsk Regional Court in Belarus. Death penalty is a violation of the key human right – the right to life; this inhuman practice is incompatible with the values of the Council of Europe.
“I reiterate my call on the authorities of Belarus to abolish death penalty in the country.”