Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini

13.4.2018

The European Union (EU) has issued statements after each death sentence and execution carried out in Belarus, including on the rejection of the appeal against the two death sentences of Ihar Hershankow and Syamyon Berazhny[1]. During his recent visit to Belarus (30 January 2018), the Commissioner responsible for the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations recalled that the EU still expects Belarus to establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards the abolition of the death penalty.

In addition, during the last meeting of the EU-Belarus Coordination Group (Brussels, 19-20 December 2017) the EU reminded the Belarusian authorities that steps taken by the country to respect universal fundamental freedoms, rule of law and human rights, including on the death penalty, will remain vital for the shaping of the EU's future policy towards Belarus. During the EU-Belarus Human Rights Dialogue (20-21 July 2017) the EU pointed out that the upsurge in executions during the preceding 2 years was contrary to the commitment, made by the Belarusian authorities within the framework of the United Nations, to consider the introduction of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

In 2017, there were several high level meetings involving the Belarusian Parliament, in particular its working group on the death penalty, regional authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international experts. The EU Delegation in Minsk worked closely with EU Member States on these meetings organised in Minsk, Grodna and Brest to discuss the introduction of moratorium.

• [1] https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/37793/statement-two-upheld-death-sentences-belarus_en