05/10/2016 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 4 October, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) denounced the confirmation that day by the Belarusian supreme court of the death sentence for Siarhei Vostrykau who has been found guilty of rape and murder (see EUROPE 11555). The EEAS spokesperson said that "this is the fourth confirmation by the Belarusian supreme court of a death sentence in 2016". The spokesperson added that "the continued application of capital punishment runs counter to Belarus' stated willingness to consider the introduction of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty". The spokesperson also pointed out that this was a commitment made by Belarus in response to recommendations made by the UN Human Rights Council in the Universal Periodic Review. The EEAS spokesperson again reiterated the EU's opposition to capital punishment. (CG)