Tsikhinia: Moratorium does not abolish death penalty

On June 23, the Council of Europe passed a resolution that says that the Belarusian parliament would be returned the special-guest status at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe only after the death penalty is abolished in our country.
Former Constitutional Court chairman Valery Tsikhinia explained the European Radio for Belarus that there are two options to meet the requirement of the Council of Europe: to amend the Penal and the Penal and Procedural Codes by MPs or to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty by the president.

But, the first option is better, he says.

“Moratorium does not ablolish the death penalty. Simply, a death sentence is frozen, but it can thaw any time”.

But, lawmakers have not even began setting up a working group on the isse of abolishing the death penalty yet, the European Radio for Belarus has learned.