The death penalty in Belarus in facts and figures

Belarus is the only state in Europe and the CIS where the death penalty is applied. This punishment is appointed for particularly serious acts against life under aggravating circumstances and carried out through execution.

Death Penalty in Belarus: Statistics

Since 1999, the number of sentences has been gradually decreasing. In 2015, this measure was imputed to at least two people. However, only one death penalty was carried out. особо тяжких деяний более чем скромная. In Belarus, the statistics of particularly serious acts are more than modest. Nevertheless, the application of the highest measure causes public outcry. In January 2015, amendments to the Criminal Code were introduced. They said that if the subject concluded a pre-trial agreement with the investigative authorities and assisted in the detection of the crime, he could not be sentenced to death. In the Republic of Belarus, the statistics of sentences indicates that the courts still do not aspire to apply the highest measure without fail. Particularly dangerous for society subjects are sentenced mainly to life imprisonment. состоялась в 2016 г. The last death penalty in Belarus took place in 2016.

Oleg Alkaev

. This person knows first-hand how the death penalty is executed in Belarus . In the 90s, Oleg Alkaev worked as the head of the Minsk SIZO No.1. This prison contains persons sentenced to death. , Алкаев рассказал в своей книге. Alkaev told about the execution of the death penalty in Belarus in his book. The name of her speaking is "The Shooting Team". Sentences are carried out by SIZO No. 1. The head of the institution acts as the head of the "team". The technology of execution is formally classified. However, this procedure is not in fact a secret, since it is described in detail by Alkaev. It is worth noting that the former head of the SIZO fled to the West, was granted asylum in Germany. Further in the article some excerpts from the book of Alkaev will be given.

"Firing squad"

It has the official name: "Special execution team for the death penalty". This wording is contained in the instruction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs governing the conduct of the procedure. The same document determines the personal and quantitative composition of the group. The instruction sets the scope of tasks that are put before the employees. The group, headed by Alkaev, included 13 people. In addition to direct executors, it included a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a doctor. The duties of the latter consisted in ascertaining death. The representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was assigned control and registration functions. The prosecutor, who was appointed by the Prosecutor General of the Republic, acted as a key supervisory authority. It is he who acts as the chief official controlling the administration of justice strictly in accordance with the law. The prosecutor is not an immediate member of the group. The remaining officers are appointed by the head and approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Distribution of duties

It is carried out by the head of the group. The head of the SIZO chooses at least 2 performers and at least 3 drivers. Alkaev in his book writes that he sought to include "universal" employees in his group. In his view, each employee should be able to perform any tasks set by the head, including directly to bring the sentence into execution. The group was enrolled physically strong male employees, with strong nerves. As a rule, SIZO employees were present in its composition. But in some cases outsiders were allowed to be involved. During working hours, the members of the group performed their usual duties. At the signal of the chief they immediately arrived at the collection point. The challenge occurred so that the absence of an employee in the workplace was natural and not suspect. At the gathering, the employees arrived with a service weapon.

Responsible moment

After setting the tasks for the collection, some of the employees were delivered by special transport to the point of execution. There they prepared a place for the adoption of convicts. Other members of the group returned to the SIZO. According to the documents received from the head of the institution, they organized the exit of convicts from the cells, landing in a car, transportation to the point of execution of punishment. This moment was considered the most responsible in the entire procedure. During transportation through the city of the sentenced, an attack on cars could have occurred in order to free convicts. In this regard, the chief announced the time of loading and the route immediately before the event. At the same time, information was transmitted only verbally and only to those employees who would be involved in this operation. At the same time, measures were taken to ensure the encryption of the convoy's track. In the event of an attack on the convoy, the SIZO officers are entitled to leave the car only after the execution of all convicts.

The last moments of life

After the delivery of sentences sentenced to the place of execution, they are placed under intensive protection. Prior to the call, the convicts are in a special cell. After completion of training in the next room, the prosecutor, the head of the group and the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are located. They sit down at their seats at the table, on which are the personal files of the condemned. The manager names the surname, and the staff leads the first person. According to the instructions, the prosecutor asks him several questions, specifying the data. This is done in order to make sure that before him really convicted, sentenced to be shot. Further, the prosecutor declares that the petition of the citizen for pardon submitted to the president is rejected and the punishment will be executed. At this moment, as Alkaev says, the convicts are in a state of almost total insanity. Most of them do not understand what is happening, and does not think that now everything will end. After the procurator announces the execution of the punishment, the team leader gives the command to the subordinate. The condemned person is blindfolded. It is necessary that he can not navigate in space. After that, he is taken to the next room, in which the performer is already standing.

The death penalty in Belarus

расстрел? How is the shooting going on ? At the signal of the executor, the convicted person is kneeled in front of the bullet-proof shield. The perpetrator shoots at the back of the condemned man. The death of a man comes almost instantaneously. The entire procedure from the moment of announcing the refusal of clemency to the immediate execution of the sentence lasts no more than two minutes. As noted by Alkaev, the convicts do not understand what is happening to them. Death comes suddenly. After the announcement of the refusal to pardon, probably, as the author says, people still hope that they have some more time, day, hour or at least five minutes.

Special convicts

During the time of Alkaev's work, the head of the SIZO and the head of the special group executed 134 verdicts. As the author notes, only four of them understood that death would come in a few seconds, and passed away in a more or less normal state. Alkaev writes, there was an impression that they believed in God. They were people who did not just read the Bible. They looked like true believers.

The final stage

What happens after the death penalty has been carried out ? действует специальная инструкция для сотрудников, участвующих в процедуре расстрела. In Belarus, there is a special instruction for employees involved in the procedure of execution. The doctor states the biological death of a person. The head of the special group, the medic and the prosecutor must sign the act on bringing the punishment to execution. As a rule, the paper is prepared in advance. This act acts as the main accounting and accounting document. On its basis, certificates are issued for the court that issued the verdict, the registrar's office for the decoration of the church about death. The act on bringing the execution into execution, together with the document on burial and other papers, is attached to the materials of the case, then transferred to the archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Additionally

As a rule, writes Alkaev, the number of convicts is 3-5 people. However, it also happened that only one convict was brought to the shooting. The number of people depends on the intensity of the work of the Clemency Commission. After the execution, the bodies are packed in sacks and burial is carried out. The burial places are kept secret.

Personal attitude of the author to work

Alkaev writes that he was disgusted with the procedure for executing the verdict. Moreover, he points out that the same attitude was with the other members of the group. Employees who showed enthusiastic emotions during the execution were immediately removed from the "team". In general, the members of the group in normal life are quite peaceful people. According to Alkaev, they are all worthy of respect, because they perform ungrateful, rough work, risking at the same time authority, public status, the acquisition of the stigma "executioner." Many of the members of the group are not even able to swear in everyday life. However, they obey the order to the end. At the same time, no one, even relatives, can know about what they are doing. Executors of sentences are obliged to remain silent.

Normative base

может применяться только как исключительная мера. The Basic Law of the country states that the death penalty in Belarus can only be used as an exceptional measure. In this case, the subject can be pardoned by the president. In this case, the higher measure is replaced by a lifetime stay in prison . ? Why do they give the death penalty in Belarus ? Crimes for which the highest measure is established are determined by the Criminal Code. Among them:

1. Unleashing an aggressive war or its conduct.
2. Murder of a foreign representative with the aim of provoking complications of the international situation.
3. Genocide.
4. International terrorism.
5. Murder of minors, the elderly, pregnant women, committed with particular cruelty, accompanied by rape and other serious deeds.
6. State treason, involving the willful deprivation of life.
7. Murder of law enforcement officers.

. This is not all, for which the death penalty is envisaged in Belarus .

Exceptions

не назначается: The death penalty is not imposed in Belarus :

1. Underage citizens.
2. To women.
3. Men, whose age by the date of the sentence is 65 years.

Pardon

может заменяться пожизненным пребыванием в тюрьме. As it was said above, the death penalty in Belarus can be replaced by life imprisonment. Only the president has the right to pardon the convicted person. The Criminal Procedure Code (176 articles) establishes one more case when the appointed sentence is not carried out. The death penalty is not made when establishing a mental illness (disorder) that deprives the sentenced person of understanding his behavior and directing his actions. As A. Lukashenko pointed out, during his presidency he pardoned one convict.

Public response

In November 1996, the country held a referendum. Citizens were asked whether the death penalty is necessary in Belarus. высказалось разное количество респондентов. Pros and cons expressed a different number of respondents. At the same time, more than 80% of the respondents expressed their support for the retention of this punishment. Against this sentence was about 18%. Since 1992, the state is a party to the Optional Protocol, which allows the UN Special Committee to consider applications and complaints of persons sentenced to death. This body, upon receipt of the appeal, has the right to request the Belarusian authorities to postpone the sentence. However, according to the Committee's representatives, punishments are carried out even on complaints that are pending. So, in 2014, two people were sentenced to make a statement. At the same time, the Committee on their complaints asked to postpone the execution. In October 2015, he ruled that the execution of citizen Yuzepchuk (which occurred in 2010) violated his right to life. Moreover, Committee representatives indicated that confessions from the murdered person were obtained by torture, and the trial, at the end of which the verdict was pronounced, was in violation of the principles of impartiality and independence. In 2015, the authorities agreed to conduct a public campaign related to the abolition of the highest measure. However, the government rejected the recommendations of the UN Committee to impose a moratorium on the death penalty. In Belarus, relatives are forbidden to visit sentenced to be shot before the execution of punishment. It is also not permissible to issue bodies close to burial. Meanwhile, almost all countries of the world have abolished the death penalty. In such states, life imprisonment is considered the highest measure . Belarus adheres to a long-established order. In the near future, in all likelihood, the attitude of the authorities towards the application of the highest measure will not change.