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Russia reminds death sentence exists in democratic countries

Belarus is the only European country to retain capital punishment. Russia is observing a moratorium on it

MOSCOW, December 2 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia reminded on Thursday that death sentence exists not only in authoritarian Belarus, but also in democratic countries.

“There is a number of advanced democracies which preserve (capital) punishment for very grave crimes and not very grave crimes,” foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said commenting on the death sentence passed in Belarus to two organizers of a terrorist act in Minsk metro in April that killed 15 people and injured scores of others.

Belarus is the only European country to retain capital punishment. Russia is observing a moratorium on it.

“We discuss with Belarussian partners any issues, including human rights. The problem of capital punishment is acute not only because of the Belarussian decision,” Lukashevich said adding “a complex answer shall be given to the problem by all countries which took on various international commitments in the humanitarian sphere.”

On Wednesday a court in Belarus sentenced to death Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalyov, both 25, who were also found guilty of 2005 explosions in their home city of Vitebsk and another bomb attack at Independence Day celebrations in Minsk in 2008.

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