Belarus - Death penalty (30 May 2018)
France condemns the executions disclosed by the press on May 29 of Alexandre Mikhalienia and Viktor Liotov, who had been sentenced to death in March and October 2017 respectively. We also reaffirm our deep concern about the situation of other Belarusians facing the death penalty.
France reaffirms its constant opposition to the death penalty everywhere and under all circumstances. We urge the Belarus authorities to establish a moratorium on the death penalty, the first step toward its abolition. Such a development is critical to Belarus’s rapprochement with the EU as well as with the Council of Europe.