Alyaksandr Lukashenka gave presidential approval to new legislation which introduces the death penalty for “attempts to carryout acts of terrorism.” the Belarusian parliament passed the bill widening the application of the death penalty. Currently, the death penalty is usually applied in Belarus for aggravated murder but is also a possible punishment in legislation for acts of terrorism that cause loss of life.
Two years ago, Belarus faced historic protest against there-election of strongman leader Alyaksandr Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-soviet country for more than two decades. Thousands of protestors were jailed and sent in exile. Sviatlana Tsikhanovskya, a political novice who ran against Lukashenko in the 2020 polls, in place of her jailed husband, Sergei Leonidovich Tikhanovsky was charged with the preparing acts of terrorism as part of an organized group.
The country’s last known death sentence was carried out against Victor Pavlov, who was arrested in Jan 2019 on suspicion of murder and larceny.
Belarus is the only state in Europe and Central Asia which still uses the death penalty, the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. This law, which is against Belarus’ international obligations, expands the application of this cruel and inhumane punishment and for acts that do not qualify as intentional killing, is the latest display of Belarusian authorities’ profound disregard for human rights.
Such incidents have reportedly been used as a covert tactic by opponents of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to prevent Russian forces stationed in Belarus from travelling across the border.
