“I am deeply shocked that the death penalty has again been carried out in Belarus. I visited Minsk in early March and was able to see for myself that, despite all the restrictions to which civil society in Belarus is subject, there is an active civil society movement against the death penalty and also in Parliament the topic is dealt with in a differentiated manner.

The person executed killed two people. My sympathy extends to them and their families for the suffering brought upon them.

Yet, the death penalty is an inhumane, cruel and antiquated form of punishment and cannot be justified in any way. It has no place in our age and I am shocked that it is being carried out again in the middle of Europe.

The German Government rejects the death penalty under all circumstances and will continue to campaign with its partners in the EU for its worldwide abolition.

I call upon the Belarusian Government to introduce a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in the country and thus take a step to abolish capital punishment once and for all.”