Events

The Belarusian delegation will include Nikolai Samoseiko, the chairman of the permanent commission for international affairs of the House of Representatives, and Alexander Zozulya, the chairman of the permanent commission for nation-building, local self-government and regulations of the House of Representatives.

According to the Parliament, this meeting will discuss the issue of capital punishment in Belarus.

“I think that the meeting will highlight the issues of death penalty, reformation of the electoral legislation, and probably the legislation on mass media,” said Nikolai Samoseiko, commenting on the participation of the Belarusian MPs in the meeting. He also said that PACE Rapporteur on Belarus Andres Herkel will present his report. “We know that his views on Belarus are not exactly constructive, probably because he uses one-sided sources, which is the opposition. He shows no great desire in cooperating with the authorities of Belarus,” said the MP.

However, for the first time the committee meeting will be attended by Belarusian MPs, which is a positive moment, Nikolai Samoseiko said. “Still, I hope that this visit will give impetus to further full-fledged and respectful dialogue. And I hope that our colleagues from the OSCE PA also realize that as well,” Nikolai Samoseiko said.

As reported earlier, the members of the House of Representatives including Nikolai Samoseiko took part in the round table “Religion and Death Penalty”, which was organized by the Belarusian authorities and the Council of Europe. Attending the event were diplomats, the clergy and experts. At the round table Nikolai Samoseiko said that the abolition of the death penalty cannot be viewed from the pragmatic point of view, but rather from the moral and ethical perspective, and this matter goes beyond the scope of law. He also noted that Belarus will not tolerate pressure regarding possible the abolition of the capital punishment.