STRASBOURG, 24 January (BelTA) - Parliamentary hearings on death penalty may be held in Belarus, Andrei Naumovich, the chairman of the permanent commission on human rights, national relations and mass media, said when speaking at a meeting of the political affairs committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, BelTA has learned.
“The House of Representatives can organize parliamentary hearings on death penalty in late 2017 – early 2018,” noted Andrei Naumovich.
He stressed the need for an elaborate and well-balanced approach to capital punishment which is a sensitive issue for Belarus. All stakeholders are expected to be invited to the hearings.
Andrei Naumovich added that the country will continue exploring the issue. Account is taken of both modern global trends and the results of the 1996 referendum when the majority of citizens voted against abolishing this type of punishment.
In December 2016 a working group on death penalty was set up in the new-convocation parliament. The group is headed by Andrei Naumovich. “The parliamentary group will continue its work on the matter relying on the suggestions and recommendations made by the previous group,” the MP said.
