Norway condemns executions in Belarus

“Norway condemns the execution of Vladislav Kovalyov and Dmitry Konavalov in Belarus this weekend,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre.

Vladislav Kovalyov and Dmitry Konavalov were condemned to death in November after having confessed to carrying out the bomb attack on an underground metro station in Minsk in the spring of 2011. 

“The way the case has been handled raises questions as to whether these men have had proper protection under the law,” said Mr Støre.

Norway is opposed to the use of the death penalty in any circumstances on grounds of principle. This message has been clearly communicated to the Belarusian Ambassador at a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 March. The Ambassador was called in to the meeting in connection with the introduction of tougher sanctions by the EU. Norway has aligned itself with this new sanctions regime.