Statement by the Spokesperson on a new death sentence in Belarus

The Brest Regional Court in Belarus has handed down a death sentence to Mr Viktar Serhil.

The European Union expresses its sincere sympathy to all those affected by the crime.

The European Union opposes capital punishment in all circumstances. Capital punishment is an inhumane and ineffective punishment, that fails to act as a deterrent.

A moratorium on executions in Belarus would be a positive first step towards the abolition of the death penalty in the country. By doing so, Belarus would join the growing number of countries to have eradicated the death penalty either in law or de facto, which has meant that over the last 10 years, no executions have taken place in 160 countries worldwide