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Lukashenko: Decision on capital punishment should be made by people

MINSK, 14 December (BelTA) - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko spoke about the topic of death penalty at the meeting with representatives of the Russian media on 14 December, BelTA has learned.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, he is keeping an eye on the situation in western countries where they say that the death penalty issue should not be put to a referendum. However, in a conversation with the Belarusian leader representatives of the West acknowledge that two thirds of the population would have supported the application of death penalty in certain cases. “They are used to saying that it is not up to people to decide. But I believe it is,” the president stressed.

He reminded that there was a referendum in Belarus, and the majority of people voted against the abolition of death penalty. “There was a referendum in Belarus. I cannot abolish death penalty,” Alexander Lukashenko added. In his opinion, people in Russia, where a moratorium on death penalty is implemented, would have also been against the abolition of this form of punishment.

The head of state said that the most difficult documents he has to sign are those concerning capital punishment. Before making a decision, the president studies criminal case files. Alexander Lukashenko tells his western partners about some of them when they start a conversation about the abolition of capital punishment. He asks them if they want something like that to happen to their close ones.

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