MEPs: Belarusian oligarchs must not conduct business in the EU (Video)
- 22.03.2012, 10:22
EU сondemns executions in Belarus and prepares further sanctions.
A strong reaction from the European Union to the executions of two young men in Belarus. They're accused of orchestrating a subway bomb attack in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, in spring of last year.
The two men were executed last week, mere days after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had refused to pardon them, despite pleas from the international community for clemency.
Barbara Lochbihler, Chair of HR Subcommittee of the European Parliament: “So I strongly condemn these executions. The death penalty generally is a very cruel and inhuman treatment and it should be abolished. And in this case, when we look at how the irregularities have been in the investigation and also in the court case itself, it is especially unjust.”
One of the convicted men, Kovalyov, told the court he had never confessed - and had only agreed to testify against his friend after hearing his screams from a nearby jail cell.
Laima Liucija Andrikiene, Member of the European Parliament: “Even victims of those terrorist attacks had very serious doubts if these two young men were guilty.”
Belarus is the only country in Europe to retain the death penalty. And the EU is asking that the practice be stopped.
Barbara Lochbihler: “Our main demand should be that the death penalty should be abolished. And to do this, first we ask for a moratorium.”
The European Parliament will vote on a new resolution on Belarus next week - and on more sanctions.
Laima Liucija Andrikiene: “Rich people from this country, those who are close to Lukaschenko, would like to come to the European Union and enjoy life here and also do business here, but they have very clear restrictions and we are going to impose even more sanctions on them.”
Relations between the European Union and Belarus have worsened in recent months. In late February, Belarus expelled the EU ambassador in Minsk and later recalled its own envoy from Brussels after the EU imposed sanctions on 21 Belarusian judges and police officers. In response, the EU's 27 capitals agreed to temporarily withdraw their own ambassadors.