09/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - EU denounces new execution and confirmation of death sentence. On Thursday 5 May, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy denounced the execution of Syarhey Iwanow and the confirmation of the death sentence against Sergei Khmelevsky in Belarus "Despite the many calls made by the European Union" against the death penalty. In her press statement, the High Representative said that this execution "is particularly disturbing in light of the fact that his complaint was pending with the UN Human Rights Committee". She also criticised the fact that the death sentence against Sergei Khmelevsky was upheld by the Belarus Supreme Court on 6 May and has also been confirmed (see EUROPE 11493). The spokesperson again pointed out that the EU was opposed to the death penalty which she said "fails to act as a deterrent to crime and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity". The spokesperson added "We expect Belarus, the only country in Europe still applying capital punishment, to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its abolition". (CG)