13/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - EU denounces confirmation of death sentence. On Tuesday 12 April, the European Union condemned the use of the death penalty, despite the fact that the Supreme Court of Belarus had recently confirmed the death sentence against Mr Henadz Yakavitski. The latter was found guilty of the murder "with extreme cruelty" on 5 January 2016 (see EUROPE 11467) of his mistress in July the previous year. The Spokesperson for the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs pointed out that the death penalty "fails to act as a deterrent and is a cruel punishment, representing an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity…The European Union urges Belarus, the only country in Europe which still applies capital punishment, to respect the right to life for each of its citizens and to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its full abolition". The European Union encourages Belarus to continue its constructive engagement with Belarusian society on this matter. (CG)