capital punishment in Belarus

The Belarusian Democratic Republic, as the first Belarusian state, was too short-lived to establish a codified legal system, and thus, it held no specific legal position on the death penalty.{{cite journal |last1=Michaluk |first1=Dorota |last2=Rudling |first2=Per Anders |title=From the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the Belarusian Democratic Republic: the Idea of Belarusian Statehood during the German Occupation of Belarusian Lands, 1915 - 1919 |journal=Journal of Belarusian Studies |date=11 December 2014 |volume=7 |issue=2 |page=28 |doi=10.30965/20526512-00702002 |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/bela/7/2/article-p3_2.xml?ebody=Article%20details |access-date=11 June 2025|doi-access=free }}

Until 1928, Belarus operated under the Russian legal code.{{cite web |last1=Snop |first1=S.N. |title=Уголовное право. Общая часть. Конспект лекций |url=https://ebooks.grsu.by/yg_pravo_konspekt/tema-21-istoriya-ugolovnogo-prava-respubliki-belarus.htm |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730023730/http://ebooks.grsu.by/yg_pravo_konspekt/tema-21-istoriya-ugolovnogo-prava-respubliki-belarus.htm |archive-date=30 July 2020 |language=ru |date=2012 |trans-title=Criminal Law. General Part. Lecture Notes}} When Belarus enacted its own criminal code in 1928, it introduced the death penalty for 38 crimes. Significantly, this code described capital punishment as a temporary measure. Of these 38 offenses, only two were crimes against individuals: armed robbery and murder committed by a serviceman. Exceptions to the death penalty were made for pregnant women and individuals under 18 years old.{{cite web |title=Уголовный кодекс Белорусской ССР |url=https://www.pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/UK_BSSR_1928_goda.pdf |website=pravo.by |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813134026/https://www.pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/UK_BSSR_1928_goda.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2020 |date=23 September 1928}} A 1935 decree, effective until 1959, lowered the age limit for execution to 12.

During the Great Purge, between 1935 and 1940, over 35,000 executions took place in Belarus,{{cite journal |last1=Marples |first1=David R. |author1-link=David R. Marples |title=Kurapaty: Belarus' Continuing Debates |journal=Slavic Review |date=18 November 2020 |volume=79 |issue=3 |page=527 |doi=10.1017/slr.2020.156}} including 370 members of the literary intelligentsia.{{cite book |last1=Per Anders |first1=Rudling |author1-link=Per Anders Rudling |title=Europe's Last Frontier? Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine between Russia and the European Union |date=2008 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |isbn=978-1-137-10170-9 |page=57 |url=https://www.academia.edu/47139895 |access-date=11 June 2025 |chapter=Belarus in the Lukashenka Era: National Identity and Relations with Russia|doi=10.1007/978-1-137-10170-9_4}} Additionally, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people were executed by the NKVD in prisons located in territories annexed after 1939.

In 1947, capital punishment was initially abolished,{{cite web |title=Об отмене смертной казни |url=http://pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/ob_ug_otvetstvennosti_za_hichenie_gos_imuchestva_1947_goda.pdf |website=pravo.by |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114030207/http://pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/ob_otmene_smertnoj_kazni_1947_goda.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2020 |language=ru |date=26 May 1947 |trans-title=On the Abolition of the Death Penalty}} only to be reintroduced in 1950 for spies and traitors,{{cite web |title=О применении смертной казни к изменникам родины, шпионам, подрывникам-диверсантам |url=http://pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/o_smertnoj_kazni_shpionam_1950_goda.pdf |website=pravo.by |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131150249/http://pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/o_smertnoj_kazni_shpionam_1950_goda.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2020 |language=ru |date=12 January 1950 |trans-title=On the application of the death penalty to traitors to the Motherland, spies, saboteurs}} and then in 1954 for aggravated murder.{{cite web |title=Об усилении уголовной ответственности за умышленное убийство |url=https://ru.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%A3%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7_%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B0_%D0%92%D0%A1_%D0%A1%D0%A1%D0%A1%D0%A0_%D0%BE%D1%82_30.04.1954_%D0%BE%D0%B1_%D1%83%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%8B%D1%88%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5_%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE |website=wikisource |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912101111/https://ru.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%A3%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7_%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B0_%D0%92%D0%A1_%D0%A1%D0%A1%D0%A1%D0%A0_%D0%BE%D1%82_30.04.1954_%D0%BE%D0%B1_%D1%83%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%8B%D1%88%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5_%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE |archive-date=12 September 2024 |language=ru |date=30 April 1954 |trans-title=On the Intensification/Strengthening of Criminal Liability for Intentional Murder}} The 1960 Belarusian criminal code was adopted. In 1962, the death penalty was extended to bribery,{{cite web |title=Об усилении уголовной ответственности за взяточничество |url=http://pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/ob_uslenii_otvetstvennosti_za_vzjatochnichestvo_1962_goda.pdf |website=pravo.by |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114030736/http://pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/ob_uslenii_otvetstvennosti_za_vzjatochnichestvo_1962_goda.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2020 |language=ru |date=24 April 1962 |trans-title=On the Intensification of Criminal Liability for Bribery}} and in 1965, the Presidium allowed its retroactive application to war criminals.{{cite web |title=О наказании лиц, виновных в преступлениях против мира и человечности и военных преступлениях, независимо от времени совершения преступлений |url=http://pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/o_nakazanii_lic_vinovnih_v_prestupl_1965_goda.pdf |website=pravo.by |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113200700/http://pravo.by/upload/pdf/krim-pravo/o_nakazanii_lic_vinovnih_v_prestupl_1965_goda.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2020 |language=ru |date=4 March 1965 |trans-title=On the Punishment of Persons Guilty of Crimes Against Peace and Humanity and War Crimes, Regardless of the Time of Commission of the Crimes}} Subsequent amendments to the code continued to broaden the list of capital offenses, including, for example, currency speculation.

A 1987 case involved an individual sentenced to death who was subsequently acquitted after spending nearly 15 years in prison. Furthermore, another innocent man was executed prior to the apprehension of the actual perpetrator.{{cite book |last1=Newton |first1=Michael |title=The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers |date=2006 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=0816069875 |page=177 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DwNVbOcTncwC&pg=PA177}}

Upon gaining independence, Belarus began to limit the use of the death penalty. In 1993, the list of capital crimes was reduced eliminating economic crimes from being punishable by death. Exemptions from the death penalty were introduced for women by 1994, followed by individuals over the age of 65 in 2001. In 1997, life imprisonment was introduced as an alternative form of punishment. However, a Presidential decree in the same year expanded the list of capital offenses to include terrorism.{{cite web |title=Belarus and Uzbekistan: the last executioners |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR040092004?open&of=ENG-BLR |website=Amnesty International |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050525235703/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR040092004?open&of=ENG-BLR |archive-date=25 May 2005 |date=4 October 2004}}

A new criminal code adopted in 1999 significantly reduced the number of capital crimes from 29 to 14.{{cite web |title=Capital Punishment in Belarus and Changes of Belarus Criminal Legislation related thereto |url=http://www.belembassy.org/uk/capital.html |website=Embassy of Belarus in the United Kingdom |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219231456/http://www.belembassy.org/uk/capital.html |archive-date=19 December 2007|access-date=29 May 2007}}

in October 2005, the Parliament adopted an amendment to the Criminal Code declaring that the continued use of the death penalty was on a temporary basis only.[http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2005/10/27/uk Belarus amends criminal code] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185342/http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2005/10/27/uk |date=September 30, 2007 }} Interfax on October 26, 2005, accessed on May 28, 2006.

Lukashenko put forth the idea of another death penalty referendum in 2021, however, it was not subsequently carried out.{{cite web |title=Lukashenko offers his take on death penalty |url=https://eng.belta.by/president/view/lukashenko-offers-his-take-on-death-penalty-143666-2021/ |website=BelTA |access-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240224081651/https://eng.belta.by/president/view/lukashenko-offers-his-take-on-death-penalty-143666-2021/ |archive-date=24 February 2024 |date=28 September 2021}}

On December 7, 2022, Belarusian lawmakers approved a bill that punishes high treason among officials and military personnel with the death penalty.{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/alexander-lukashenko-kremlin-belarus-wants-to-bring-in-death-penalty-for-high-treason/ | title=Belarus wants to bring in death penalty for 'high treason' | date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=12 June 2025}} President Alexander Lukashenko signed this bill into law on March 9, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Belarus approves death penalty for officials convicted of high treason |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/belarus-approves-death-penalty-officials-convicted-high-treason-3337986 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=CNA |language=en |archive-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724024203/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/belarus-approves-death-penalty-officials-convicted-high-treason-3337986 |url-status=dead }}

Article 24 of the Constitution of Belarus states that:

{{blockquote|Until its abolition, the death sentence may be applied in accordance with the law as an exceptional penalty for especially grave crimes and only in accordance with the verdict of a court of law.[http://law.by/work/EnglPortal.nsf/6e1a652fbefce34ac2256d910056d559/d93bc51590cf7f49c2256dc0004601db?OpenDocument Constitution of the Republic of Belarus] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104000951/http://law.by/work/EnglPortal.nsf/6e1a652fbefce34ac2256d910056d559/d93bc51590cf7f49c2256dc0004601db?OpenDocument |date=2010-11-04 }}. Accessed on September 5, 2005.}}

As per the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, capital punishment can be imposed for the following acts:{{cite web |title=Уголовный кодекс Республики Беларусь |url=https://pravo.by/document/?guid=3871&p0=HK9900275 |website=pravo.by |access-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231116033238/https://pravo.by/document/?guid=3871&p0=HK9900275 |archive-date=16 November 2023 |language=ru |date=1 October 2023|trans-title=Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus}}

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• War of aggression
• Terrorism targeting diplomatic or international personnel
• International terrorism by an organized group
• Genocide
• Crimes against humanity
• Use of weapons of mass destruction prohibited by an international treaty of the Republic of Belarus
• War crimes leading to murder
• Aggravated murder
• Terrorist acts involving murder or weapons of mass destruction
• High treason by an official or serviceman
• Seditious conspiracy resulting in death
• Terrorist murder of a civil servant or public figure
• Sabotage by an organized group, or causing death or other severe consequences
• Murder of a police officer or serviceman

{{div col end}}

The death penalty may be imposed for preparation or attempted terrorism, but not for other crimes.

Capital punishment cannot be imposed on individuals under 18 years of age, those over 65, or on women. When a mental disorder is diagnosed that deprives the condemned person of the ability to understand their actions, the death penalty isn't executed.{{cite web |title=Уголовно-исполнительный кодекс Республики Беларусь |url=https://etalonline.by/document/?regnum=hk0000365 |website=etalonline.by |access-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616065801/https://etalonline.by/document/?regnum=hk0000365 |archive-date=16 June 2024 |language=ru |date=6 January 2023|trans-title=Penal Enforcement Code of the Republic of Belarus}}

The death penalty isn't applied if a pre-trial cooperation agreement is reached. The Prosecutor General must review petitions for these agreements.{{cite web |title=Уголовно-процессуальный кодекс Республики Беларусь |url=https://etalonline.by/document/?regnum=HK9900295 |website=etalonline.by |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805164705/https://etalonline.by/document/?regnum=HK9900295 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |language=ru |date=8 January 2024 |trans-title=Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Belarus}}

File:Vladislav Kovalyov execution notice.jpg to notify her that her son had been executed.]]

Should the statute of limitations for the crime of a person sentenced to death expire, the court shall review the case. If the court does not find grounds to acquit the individual, the death penalty shall be commuted to imprisonment.

Death penalty criminal cases are presided over at first instance by a panel of one judge and two people's assessors, chosen from the general population.{{cite web|url=http://ncpi.gov.by/constsud/eng/d114.htm |title=DECISION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS OF 17.04.2001 No. D-114/2001 |access-date=March 11, 2008 |date=April 17, 2001 |publisher=Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006165746/http://ncpi.gov.by/constsud/eng/d114.htm |archive-date=October 6, 2007}}

The death penalty can only be imposed on a defendant found guilty by a unanimous decision of all judges.

Executions are carried out non-publicly by shooting. Each condemned person is executed separately.

A prosecutor, a representative of the correctional facility, and a medical professional must be present at the execution. The medical professional confirms the death of the condemned.

After an execution, the facility administration notifies the sentencing court, which informs one of the deceased's close relatives. The body is not released for burial, and the burial place is not disclosed, a practice the UNHRC believes violates Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,{{Cite web|url=http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/0/2b1c441baa682a5fc1256d250036448c?Opendocument|title=Communication No 887/1999 : Belarus. 24/04/2003|access-date=November 3, 2007|publisher=United Nations Organization|date=April 24, 2003|author=Human Rights Committee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023024600/http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/0/2b1c441baa682a5fc1256d250036448c?Opendocument |archive-date=2012-10-23 |url-status=live}} and which the OSCE considers a violation of the Copenhagen Declaration,{{cite web |title=The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/a/6/16651.html |website=OSCE |access-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612074641/https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/a/6/16651.html |archive-date=12 June 2025 |date=27 March 2000}} to both of which Belarus is a signatory.

The death penalty may be commuted to life imprisonment through a presidential pardon.

In 2004, the Constitutional Court of Belarus ruled that the President or the National Assembly held the authority to suspend or abolish the death penalty without requiring a new referendum.[http://ncpi.gov.by/ConstSud/eng/j171.htm Judgment of the Constitutional Court of March 11, 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104215817/http://ncpi.gov.by/constsud/eng/j171.htm |date=January 4, 2006 }} On the conformity between the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the international treaties to which the Republic of Belarus is a party and the provisions of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus stipulating application of the death penalty as a punishment, accessed on May 28, 2006. This interpretation was reaffirmed in 2010 by the Court's Head{{cite web |title=Петр Миклашевич: Для введения в Беларуси моратория на смертную казнь нет конституционно-правовых препятствий |url=https://belapan.by/archive/2010/01/26/358830/ |website=BelaPAN |url-status=dead|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200920135852/https://belapan.by/archive/2010/01/26/358830/ |archive-date=20 September 2020 |language=ru |date=26 January 2010 |trans-title=Petr Miklashevich: There are no constitutional and legal obstacles to introducing a moratorium on the death penalty in Belarus}} and is also shared by the Council of Europe.{{cite web |title=Обзор важнейших событий 3 ноября 2014 года |url=https://belapan.by/archive/2014/11/03/738005/ |website=BelaPAN |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180708070057/https://belapan.by/archive/2014/11/03/738005/ |archive-date=8 July 2018 |language=ru |date=3 November 2014 |trans-title=Overview of the most important events of November 3, 2014}}

File:PB pistol.jpg, used for executions in Belarus]]

In Belarus, prisoners sentenced to death are transferred to Minsk Detention Center No. 1 in the capital.

The execution is carried out by a member of the "committee for the execution of sentences," which also determines the execution site. According to Oleg Alkayev's book The Death Squad, on the day of execution the convict is transported to a secret location and informed that all appeals have been rejected. He is then blindfolded and taken to a nearby room. There two staffers force him to kneel in front of a bullet backstop. The executioner then shoots the convict in the back of his head with a PB-9 pistol equipped with a suppressor. Alkayev states that "The whole procedure, starting with the announcement about denied appeals and ending with the gunshot, lasts no longer than two minutes."{{Cite web |date=2009-10-13 |title=Gypsy Laborer Faces Execution In Belarus |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gypsy-laborer-faces-execution-in-belarus/ |access-date= 12 June 2025 |website=CBS News|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250531005250/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gypsy-laborer-faces-execution-in-belarus/|archive-date=31 May 2025}}

Following the execution, a prison doctor and other officials certify the death, and a death certificate is prepared. The remains of the executed are buried secretly, and the family is subsequently notified.

== Statistics ==

{{More citations needed|section|date=March 2024}}

Official data on the statistics of death penalty application in Belarus remains a state secret, making it challenging to access.{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/152000/eur490051998en.pdf|date=17 April 1998|author=Amnesty International|title=Death Penalty / Fear of imminent execution|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200409000000mp_/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/152000/eur490051998en.pdf|archive-date=9 April 2020|access-date=10 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://docs.un.org/en/A/73/260|author=United Nations General Assembly|title=Moratorium on the use of the death penalty|date=27 July 2018|access-date=10 June 2025}} Information is primarily compiled and made public by human rights groups, such as Amnesty International and Viasna. These organizations gather their data through various means, including occasional government disclosures, case-by-case analysis of public media reports, and information received directly from the relatives of executed individuals.{{cite web|url=http://spring96.org/ru/news/85246|date=19 October 2016|author=Viasna|title=Территория смертной казни. Как это происходит в Беларуси|trans-title=Death Penalty Territory: How it Happens in Belarus|language=ru}} Reliable figures for executions actually carried out are particularly difficult to obtain.{{cite web|url=https://russska.livejournal.com/88826.html|date=6 February 2008|last=Bortnik|first=Vyacheslav|author-link=:ru:Бортник, Вячеслав Игоревич|website=LiveJournal.com|language=ru|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170622135528/http://russska.livejournal.com/88826.html|archive-date=22 June 2017|access-date=10 June 2025|title=Смертная Казнь в РБ: Ликбез|trans-title=Death Penalty in Belarus: A Primer}}

For the Belarusian SSR, data on death sentences is available starting from 1985.

For independent Belarus, multiple conflicting estimates exist regarding the number of death sentences. All sources generally agree, however, that the application of the death penalty has been greatly reduced since the early 2000s.

While the last confirmed execution took place in 2022,{{cite web | url=https://dp.spring96.org/en/news/110810 | title=Condemned prisoner's death date revealed more than a year after the execution | date=February 17, 2023|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250108120214/https://dp.spring96.org/en/news/110810|archive-date=8 January 2025|access-date=10 June 2025}} the Supreme Court rejected a death row inmate's appeal in January 2024.{{cite web|url=https://belta.by/society/view/vs-ostavil-bez-izmenenija-prigovor-roditeljam-trehletnego-semena-taratuty-smertnaja-kazn-i-25-let-609057-2024/|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250121164137/https://belta.by/society/view/vs-ostavil-bez-izmenenija-prigovor-roditeljam-trehletnego-semena-taratuty-smertnaja-kazn-i-25-let-609057-2024/|title=ВС оставил без изменения приговор родителям трехлетнего Семена Таратуты: смертная казнь и 25 лет колонии|language=ru|trans-title=The Supreme Court upheld the verdict against the parents of three-year-old Semyon Taratuta: death penalty and 25 years in prison|website=belta.by|date=9 January 2024|archive-date=21 January 2025|access-date=10 June 2025}} As of Spring 2025, no further information regarding his fate has been released.

Death sentences can be commuted either by a decision from a higher court or through a Presidential pardon; both methods are rarely utilized. In 2012, President Lukashenko stated he had pardoned only one man during his entire presidency up to that point.{{cite web|url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/236981|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211017101705/https://www.interfax.ru/russia/236981|title=Лукашенко сопереживал, но помочь не мог|language=ru|trans-title=Lukashenko sympathized, but could not help|date=21 March 2012|archive-date=17 October 2021|website=Interfax}}{{efn|According to a report by the Belarusian Embassy in the UK in 2006, President Lukashenko pardoned two individuals between June 30, 2003, and June 30, 2005}} Since then, there are three other known cases of pardons, including that of Rico Krieger as part of the 2024 Ankara prisoner exchange. Conversely, there have been instances where prosecutors successfully petitioned for a reconsideration of a case, resulting in the imposition of a death sentence.{{cite web|url=https://naviny.by/rubrics/disaster/2016/02/18/ic_articles_124_191015|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20191210090239/https://naviny.by/rubrics/disaster/2016/02/18/ic_articles_124_191015|title=«Во всем виновата водка». Приговоренный к расстрелу Сергей Хмелевский не помнит, как убивал своих жертв|language=ru|trans-title=“Vodka is to blame for everything.” Sergei Khmelevsky, sentenced to execution, does not remember how he killed his victims|date=18 February 2016|archive-date=10 December 2019|url-status=dead|website=Naviny.by}}

Typically, there is roughly a one-year gap between the issuance of a death sentence and its execution.{{cite web|url=http://dp.spring96.org/ru/news/94396|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210721135320/http://dp.spring96.org/ru/news/94396|language=ru|title=Сдерживающий эффект смертной казни: аргумент, который не работает|trans-title=The Deterrent Effect of the Death Penalty: An Argument That Doesn't Work|date=8 October 2019|archive-date=21 July 2021|access-date=10 June 2025|website=Viasna}} The overwhelming majority of individuals executed are convicted of murder.{{Cite web |author=newspaper "Trud-7" |date=November 6, 2002 |title= |script-title=ru:Смертная казнь |trans-title=Death penalty |url=http://mvd.gov.by/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1375 |access-date=November 3, 2007 |publisher=BrestOnline |language=ru}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628095219/http://www.mvd.gov.by/modules.php?name=News|archive-date=2007-06-28|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://nashaniva.com/?c=ar&i=163588&lang=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825091154/https://nashaniva.com/?c=ar&i=163588&lang=ru|title=Под воздействием алкоголя, ранее судимый, но не маньяк — обобщенный портрет осужденного на смерть|language=ru|trans-title=Under the influence of alcohol, previously convicted, but not a maniac — a generalized portrait of someone sentenced to death|date=18 January 2016|archive-date=25 August 2021|website=Nasha Niva}} However, those responsible for the 2011 Minsk Metro bombing and Rico Krieger in 2024 were sentenced for terrorism.

In a 1996 referendum one of the seven questions addressed the abolition of the death penalty. The results showed that 80.44% of Belarusians opposed its abolition.{{Cite web |year=1996 |title= |script-title=ru:Центральной комиссии Республики Беларусь по выборам и проведению республиканских референдумов |trans-title=Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus for Elections and Conducting Republican Referendums |url=http://www.rec.gov.by/refer/ref1996resdoc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019005232/http://rec.gov.by/refer/ref1996resdoc.html |archive-date=October 19, 2007 |access-date=November 17, 2007 |language=ru}}

In 2000, 65% of Belarusians supported capital punishment.{{cite journal|last=Unnever|first=James|year=2010|title=Global support for the death penalty|journal=Punishment & Society|volume=12 |issue=4|page=473|doi=10.1177/1462474510376586|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258181058|access-date=9 June 2025}} By 2010, support for retaining it fell to 48.2%, with 39.2% favoring abolition.{{cite news|work=Deutsche Welle|date=1 March 2010|title=Мораторий на смертную казнь: что стоит за обещаниями белорусских властей|language=ru|trans-title=Moratorium on the death penalty: What stands behind the promises of the Belarusian authorities|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D0%BD%D1%83%D1%8E-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%82-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%89%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BC%D0%B8-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85-%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B9/a-5305326|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221209160932/https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D0%BD%D1%83%D1%8E-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%82-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%89%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BC%D0%B8-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85-%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B9/a-5305326|archive-date=9 December 2022|access-date=9 June 2025}}{{efn|A poll from the same year by a think tank affiliated with the President of Belarus showed 79.5% support for the death penalty and only 4.5% favoring abolition.{{cite news|work=Naviny.by|date=26 March 2010|title=Почему белорусы так кровожадны?|trans-title=Why are Belarusians so bloodthirsty?|url=http://naviny.by/rubrics/society/2010/03/26/ic_articles_116_167215/|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20100329120436/http://naviny.by/rubrics/society/2010/03/26/ic_articles_116_167215/|archive-date=29 March 2010|url-status=dead}}}} In 2013, 46% of Belarusians supported the death penalty, while 44% advocated for its gradual abolition.{{cite news|work=Deutsche Welle|date=9 October 2013|title=В Беларуси противников смертной казни становится больше|language=ru|trans-title=In Belarus, opponents of the death penalty are becoming more numerous|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B5/a-17145548|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220822162332/https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B5/a-17145548|archive-date=22 August 2022|access-date=9 June 2025}} A 2017 poll conducted by a think tank associated with Lukashenko reported 60% support for the death penalty. Of those polled, 31% supported abolition, which included 18% who favored complete abolition.{{cite news|work=Tut.By|date=8 February 2019|title=ИАЦ: Белорусы все больше поддерживают смертную казнь

|language=ru|trans-title=IAC: Belarusians show growing support for the death penalty|url=https://news.tut.by/economics/625620.html|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210112170504/https://news.tut.by/economics/625620.html|archive-date=12 January 2021|access-date=9 June 2025}} Support continued into 2020, with 63% of Belarusians endorsing the death penalty.{{cite news|work=BBC|date=15 May 2020|title="Воля одного человека". Как в Беларуси казнят осужденных и что происходит с их семьями

|language=ru|trans-title="The Will of One Person." How convicts are executed in Belarus and what happens to their families|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-52647411|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806182522/https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-52647411|archive-date=6 August 2020|access-date=9 June 2025}} In 2021, the Head of the Sociology Institute of NASB claimed on state TV that only 7% of the population supported its abolition.{{cite news|work=Zerkalo.io|date=20 December 2021|title=Социолог на госТВ: за отмену смертной казни выступают менее 7% белорусов|language=ru|trans-title=Sociologist on state TV: Fewer than 7% of Belarusians support abolishing the death penalty|url=https://news.zerkalo.io/life/7462.html?tg|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241213144114/https://news.zerkalo.io/life/7462.html?tg|archive-date=13 December 2024|access-date=9 June 2025}}

{{Cquote

|quote = Condemns in the strongest possible terms the executions in Belarus and deplores the fact that Belarus is currently the only country in Europe where the death penalty... is regularly and widely enforced.

|author = Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, 26 January 2000Legislationline.org [http://www.legislationline.org/?jid=7&less=false&tid=144 Death Penalty – Belarus] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927182742/http://www.legislationline.org/?jid=7&less=false&tid=144 |date=September 27, 2007 }}. Published November 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2007.

}}

The Council of Europe has maintained a consistent stance, urging Belarus to implement a moratorium on the death penalty as a prerequisite for its membership.{{cite web |title=Death penalty should be abolished in Belarus |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/implementation/-/death-penalty-should-be-abolished-in-belarus |website=Council of Europe |access-date=10 June 2025 |date=27 August 2019}} This position dates back to at least 2001, when European Council members suggested that Belarus abolish capital punishment before seeking Council membership. Belarus's continued non-compliance led to the suspension of high-level contacts between Belarus and the PACE in 2010.{{cite web |title=PACE suspends its high-level contacts with the Belarusian Government and Parliament |url=https://pace.coe.int/en/news/2876/pace-suspends-its-high-level-contacts-with-the-belarusian-government-and-parliament |website=PACE |access-date=10 June 2025 |date=29 April 2010}} The EU has similarly and repeatedly endorsed a moratorium.{{cite web |title=EU Statement on the death penalty in Belarus |url=https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/council-europe/eu-statement-death-penalty-belarus_en?s=51 |website=European External Action Service |access-date=10 June 2025 |date=15 January 2020}}

The United Nations has also expressed strong disapproval. In 2022, the UNHRC condemned Belarus for executing a person whose case was under Committee consideration, a breach of the Optional Protocol, which Belarus had accepted in 1992.{{cite web |title=Belarus: UN Human Rights Committee condemns execution |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/belarus-un-human-rights-committee-condemns-execution |website=OHCHR |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250324160037/https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/belarus-un-human-rights-committee-condemns-execution |archive-date=24 March 2025 |date=11 March 2022 |access-date=10 June 2025}}{{efn|Belarus denounced the Optional Protocol in late 2022.{{cite web |title=Belarus' withdrawal from individual complaints procedure a serious setback for human rights protection, UN Human Rights Committee says |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/11/belarus-withdrawal-individual-complaints-procedure-serious-setback-human |website=OHCHR |access-date=10 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221125114320/https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/11/belarus-withdrawal-individual-complaints-procedure-serious-setback-human |archive-date=25 November 2022 |date=25 November 2022}}|}} Since 2007, Belarus has consistently abstained from biennial UN General Assembly votes on a death penalty moratorium.{{cite web |title=Voting Data |url=https://digitallibrary.un.org/search?cc=Voting%20Data&ln=en&p=Moratorium%20on%20the%20use%20of%20the%20death%20penalty&f=&rm=&sf=year&so=d&rg=50&c=Voting%20Data&c=&of=hb&fti=0&fti=0 |website=United Nations Digital Library |access-date=10 June 2025}}

In 2023, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Belarus's expanded death penalty scope, fearing its use to intimidate political opposition.{{cite web |author1=Antony J. Blinken |title=Responding to Continued Repression by the Lukashenka Regime in Belarus |url=https://2021-2025.state.gov/responding-to-continued-repression-by-the-lukashenka-regime-in-belarus/ |website=State Department |access-date=10 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250214044914/https://2021-2025.state.gov/responding-to-continued-repression-by-the-lukashenka-regime-in-belarus/ |archive-date=14 February 2025 |date=17 January 2023}}

The UK Foreign Office criticized Belarus's use of the death penalty after the 2011 Minsk bombings' perpetrators were executed.{{cite web |title=Foreign Office Minister David Lidington concerned about death penalty in Belarus |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-minister-david-lidington-concerned-about-death-penalty-in-belarus |website=Gov.uk |access-date=10 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250508185056/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-minister-david-lidington-concerned-about-death-penalty-in-belarus |archive-date=8 May 2025 |date=29 July 2011}} In 2018, the German Foreign Office also called for an immediate moratorium.{{cite web |title=Human Rights Commissioner Kofler on death sentences in Belarus |url=https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/kofler-death-sentence-belarus-2165358 |website=Federal Foreign Office |access-date=10 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250322070056/https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/kofler-death-sentence-belarus-2165358 |archive-date=22 March 2025 |date=29 November 2018}}

In 2012, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the decision on capital punishment was a sovereign matter for each state. However, he acknowledged that Belarus's eventual accession to the Council of Europe, which would require abolishing the death penalty, was in Russia's interest.{{cite web |last1=Lavrov |first1=Sergey |author1-link=Sergey Lavrov |title=Асада никто в Москву не приглашает |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1897210 |website=Kommersant |access-date=10 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240619100905/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1897210 |archive-date=19 June 2024 |language=ru |date=23 March 2012 |trans-title=Assad is not being invited to Moscow by anyone}}

For its part, Belarus has largely defended its position by citing domestic factors. In 2019, then-Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei stated that public sentiment in Belarus favored capital punishment, but the government was working toward changing that.{{cite web |last1=Makei |first1=Vladimir |author1-link=Vladimir Makei |title=Интервью Министра иностранных дел Беларуси В.Макея немецкой газете «Зюддойче Цайтунг» (ноябрь 2019 г.) |url=https://mfa.gov.by/press/smi/c5e47144bcf6431b.html |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus |access-date=10 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250421110728/https://mfa.gov.by/press/smi/c5e47144bcf6431b.html |archive-date=21 April 2025 |language=ru |date=November 2019 |trans-title=Interview of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V. Makei to the German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (November 2019)}} In 2022, after the Council of Europe suspended cooperation, Belarus's MFA claimed this jeopardized constructive dialogue on the death penalty.{{cite web |title=Комментарий пресс-службы МИД в связи с решением Совета Европы о приостановке сотрудничества с Республикой Беларусь |url=https://mfa.gov.by/press/news_mfa/c46f148ad16f3ec8.html |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus |access-date=10 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250227043701/https://mfa.gov.by/press/news_mfa/c46f148ad16f3ec8.html |archive-date=27 February 2025 |language=ru |date=17 March 2022 |trans-title=Comment by the Foreign Ministry Press Service regarding the Council of Europe's decision to suspend cooperation with the Republic of Belarus}} President Lukashenko, in 2013, called the death penalty "not good" but "necessary in some cases."{{cite web |title=Александр Лукашенко: Не считаю, что смертная казнь в Беларуси — это хорошо, но применять ее надо |url=https://belapan.by/archive/2013/10/11/655057/ |website=BelaPAN |url-status=dead |language=ru|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180702213343/https://belapan.by/archive/2013/10/11/655057/ |archive-date=2 July 2018 |date=11 October 2013 |trans-title=Alexander Lukashenko: "I don't think capital punishment in Belarus is good, but it must be applied."}} In 2018, he contrasted European concerns with the lack of such conditions from Russia and China.{{cite web |title=Лукашенко об использовании белорусского языка: Давайте будем делать все спокойно, шаг за шагом |url=https://belapan.by/archive/2018/04/24/953326/ |website=BelaPAN |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180424162456/https://belapan.by/archive/2018/04/24/953326/ |archive-date=24 April 2018 |date=24 April 2018 |language=ru|trans-title=Lukashenko on the use of the Belarusian language: "Let's do everything calmly, step by step."}}

{{notelist}}

{{Portal|Belarus|Law}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ru9w_oleg-alkaev-former-head-of-belarus_news Interview with Oleg Alkaev, former head of Belarus's death row]
• [http://dp.spring96.org/en The website of «The Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty in Belarus» campaign]
• [http://belarus.expatreporter.com/2018/02/belarus-death-penalty/ History of the death penalty in Belarus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304054715/https://belarus.expatreporter.com/2018/02/belarus-death-penalty/ |date=March 4, 2021 }}
• [http://dp.spring96.org/en/sign Petition against the Death Penalty in Belarus]

{{capital punishment}}

{{Capital punishment in Europe}}

Belarus

Category:Murder in Belarus

Category:Law of Belarus

Category:Human rights abuses in Belarus