/ / News
24.02.2012

European MPs unconcerned about the real situation in Belarus

MINSK, 24 February (BelTA) – The resolution of the European Parliament on death penalty in Belarus is nothing but a continuation of its pressure tactic on the Belarusian authorities and interference with the domestic affairs of the country, runs a statement of the House of Representatives’ permanent commissions on international affairs and relations with the CIS, legislation and legal issues, BelTA learnt from the press service of the House of Representatives.

“It produces the impression that European MPs care less about reliability of the facts and validity of conclusion,” the statement says.

Belarusian MPs point out that by taking into account the data of some non-governmental organizations the European Parliament calls the decision of the Supreme Court of Belarus on Minsk bombers Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev an unfair verdict. “The investigation of the case was maximally open including to the media. Referring to some anonymous observers of the trial, the authors of the resolution mention serious procedural violations throughout the juridical examination,” the Belarusian MPs said.

According to the House of Representatives, international law (Art.6 of the International Pact on Civil and Political Rights) allows capital punishment for especially grave crimes.

“The Republic of Belarus adheres to its international commitments. According to the Criminal Code of Belarus, capital punishment is allowed only for crimes related to first-degree murders and prohibited for execution in regard to women, minors and men over 65,” parliamentarians noted.

“In this regard we state that abolition of the death penalty is an internal affair of the Republic of Belarus. Any decision on this issue is possible only taking into account the opinion of the Belarusian people,” the MPs added.