1. It is with deep regret that the European Union has learnt that the Minsk regional Court in Belarus reportedly sentenced Alexander Taratuta to death on October 19^th, 2023.
2. The EU is strongly and unequivocally against the death penalty at all times, in all cases and in all circumstances. The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. It is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and with human dignity and does not serve as a deterrent to crime.
3. The EU deplores that Belarus still applies the death penalty. It is the only country in Europe to do so. We call on Belarus’ authorities to commute this death sentence and apply an alternative punishment provided for in the Belarusian criminal legislation. We reiterate our appeal for Belarus to establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition of capital punishment.
4. The EU welcomes the ratification by Armenia of Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which represents the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances. Armenia is the 45th member state of the Council of Europe to have ratified this Protocol. We continue to call for its full ratification by all Council of Europe member states.
5. The EU reiterates its call to the authorities of observer States to promote an open and democratic debate towards the abolition of the death penalty, and to engage constructively with the Council of Europe in this regard, through initiatives in conjunction with them.
6. The EU remains steadfast in its goal for universal abolition of the death penalty, and is committed to co-operating with the Council of Europe in this shared endeavour.

The following countries align with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Monaco, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Ukraine