Belarus Urged to Grant Clemency to Death Row Prisoner

Amnesty International on Wednesday called on President Aleksandr Lukashenka of Belarus to grant clemency to Vasily Yusepchuk, a death row prisoner who may be facing imminent execution. Yusepchuk, sentenced to death in 2009 for the murder of six elderly women, has an intellectual disability and has alleged being beaten while in pre-trial detention. The appeal comes ahead of the World Day against the Death Penalty, as activists urge the authorities of Belarus to abolish the practice, which is the only country in Europe and Central Asia still applying capital punishment.

Key Takeaways:

• Vasily Yusepchuk, a death row prisoner, may be facing imminent execution after his appeal was turned down on 2 October.
• Yusepchuk has an intellectual disability and was allegedly beaten while in pre-trial detention.
• Only one request for clemency has been granted since President Lukashenka came to power in 1994.
• Belarus is the only country in Europe and Central Asia that still applies the death penalty.
• Amnesty International has urged the Belarusian authorities to immediately declare a moratorium on all executions and death sentences.
• The use of the death penalty in Belarus is compounded by a flawed criminal justice system that administers capital punishment in a manner that violates international laws and standards.
• Condemned prisoners are given no warning that they are about to be executed, and are usually executed within minutes of being told that their appeal for clemency has been rejected.
• The practice of torture and ill-treatment are used to extract "confessions" in Belarus.

Statistics:

• 1 request for clemency granted since President Lukashenka came to power in 1994.
• 1 country in Europe and Central Asia that still applies the death penalty (Belarus).
• 10 days from appeal rejection to apply for clemency (Vasily Yusepchuk's deadline).
• 2 occasions in January and March when Vasily Yusepchuk alleged being beaten while in pre-trial detention.

Sources:

• Amnesty International USA, "Amnesty International on Death Penalty" (no date provided, but referenced in the original text)
• Amnesty International's expert on Belarus, Heather McGill
• Brest Regional Court (29 June 2009 decision)
• Belarusian authorities (clemency granted in 1994)
• "Supreme Court rejects Belarusian death row convict's appeal" (2 October no date provided)
• "World Day against the Death Penalty" (Saturday, no date provided)
• Various officials and organizations mentioned in the original text