Capital punishment in Belarus

Belarus is the only country in Europe that continues to carry out the death penalty. As of early 2025, capital punishment remains a legal penalty, with at least one execution confirmed in 2022 and a death sentence issued in 2024.^[1] The death penalty has been part of Belarus's legal system since its independence from the Soviet Union on August 25, 1991.

The current national constitution permits the death penalty for "especially grave crimes." The list of capital offenses was expanded in 2023 to include high treason.

A 1996 referendum on the issue saw 80.44% of voters support retaining the punishment; the Belarusian government consequently contends that the death penalty can only be abolished via another nationwide vote.^[2] Its continued use has drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations, including the United Nations, which criticize both the practice itself and the methods employed. The application of capital punishment is one of the main reasons for Belarus's exclusion from the Council of Europe.^[3]

^ "Belarus: UN Human Rights Committee condemns execution". OHCHR. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
^ Cite error: The named reference byemb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Belpan (April 5, 2001). "Seminar on death penalty abolition held in Brest". BrestOnline. Archived from the original on February 9, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2007.

[1] "Belarus: UN Human Rights Committee condemns execution". OHCHR. Retrieved July 6, 2023.

[byemb-2] Cite error: The named reference byemb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[brestonline-3] Belpan (April 5, 2001). "Seminar on death penalty abolition held in Brest". BrestOnline. Archived from the original on February 9, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2007.

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