Minsk demonstrates readiness for moratorium on death penalty if democratisation issues are taken off agenda

Last week, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland expressed deep regret over reports about yet another execution in Belarus. Minsk is attempting to shape a negotiating agenda with European capitals, which includes two major issues, the construction of the Belarusian NPP and a moratorium on the death penalty. After the execution, the Belarusian authorities demonstrated their readiness to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty. Last week, a death penalty discussion was held in the Belarusian Parliament with the participation of parliamentarians and foreign experts. Minsk aspires that western capitals relax their demand with regard to the Belarusian NPP, while Vilnius and Warsaw are opposing the construction. In addition, the Belarusian authorities aim to take democratisation issues off the agenda, as well as criticism over elections.