EU calls on Belarusian authorities to stop torture

The EU calls on Belarus to fulfill the country’s international obligations of the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

“The EU Delegation is deeply concerned about the credible reports of torture, mistreatment and inhumane prison conditions of political prisoners,” BelaPAN news agency learned from the EU Delegation.

Diplomats raised their concern about confinement conditions for imprisoned presidential candidates Andrei Sannikov and Mikalai Statkevich, politicians Zmitser Dashkevich and Zmitser Bandarenka and businessman Mikalai Autukhovich.

The EU Delegation recalls about “its principled opposition to capital punishment under all circumstances” and regrets the sentencing to death of Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavalyou.

“The EU Delegation calls on the authorities of Belarus not to carry out the executions, and to introduce a moratorium on the capital punishment in view of its eventual abolition,” the press service informs.