20/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - EU condemns rise in death sentences. The spokesperson for the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy stated on Friday 20 May that “the upsurge of new and confirmed death sentences in Belarus over the last months runs counter to Belarus' stated willingness to engage with the international community, including the European Union, on the matter and to consider the introduction of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty”. This written statement comes after the Homyel Regional Court passed a death sentence, on 19 May, against Siarhei Vostrykau - the third new death sentence passed by a Belarusian court in 2016. The spokesperson once again stated that the EU expects Belarus, the only country in Europe still applying capital punishment, to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards abolition. (CG)