Belarus expands use of the death penalty

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Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko

Photo: Markus Schreiber / AP

The use of the death penalty is being expanded in Belarus.

The Russian news agencies Interfax and RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday, citing a document on the Belarusian judiciary website, that preparing and "attempting an act of terrorism" can also be punished with the death penalty in the future.

Head of state Alexander Lukashenko signed a corresponding law.

The Belarusian parliament voted to expand the law after activists tried to destroy parts of the rail network, Reuters news agency reports.

This should make it more difficult for Russia to bring soldiers to Ukraine via Belarus.

Belarus is a close ally of Russia and acknowledged that Russian soldiers advanced into Ukraine through its territory.

However, Belarus is not directly involved in the invasion.

Numerous government opponents have already been accused

With this measure, the Minsk ruler Lukashenko is putting further pressure on the opposition in the country.

Since the mass protests against the controversial re-election of Lukashenko in August 2020, numerous opponents of the government in Belarus have already been accused of attempting or preparing an act of terrorism, including opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya, who fled into exile.

On Wednesday, a new trial against twelve government opponents began in the city of Grodno.

The group is accused of setting fire to a police officer's car and house and then blowing up another's vehicle.

The law will come into force ten days after its publication.

Until now, only perpetrators of an attack could be punished with the death penalty in Belarus.

Belarus is the last country in Europe still using the death penalty.

col/Reuters/AFP