Stop the Execution of Kanavalau and Kavalyou!
Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavalyou may still be alive. They were sentenced to death for a crime they most probably did not commit. PLEASE sign this last minute appeal.
Immediately Stop the Execution of Kanavalau and Kavalyou!
Yesterday, on March 14th, Aleksandr Lukashenko announced his decision not to pardon Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavalyou -- the two men convicted of organizing the terrorist attack in the Minsk subway in 2011. This means that Kavalyou and Kanavalau have either been executed already, or could be at any moment now.
According to Belarusian law, the date and time of executions as well as the place where the bodies are buried are never revealed either to the families, or to the public.
However, as stated by human rights groups, independent experts and victims of the attack, the two men were not proven guilty in the Court.
We are convinced that the initial confession of Dzmitry Kanavalau was given under torture. Uladzislau Kavalyou was ordered to testify against Dzmitry, which he refused to do publicly during the Court hearing.
Many of the victims of the attack as well as the lawyer of Uladzislau Kavalyou repeatedly stated at the trial that there were inconsistencies and that there was no evidence proving any involvement of Kanavalau and Kavalyou in the organization of explosions.
Both the investigation and the trial itself can be defined as controversial and unfair. We also believe the case against Kanavalau and Kavalyou was fabricated.
We demand that Aleksandr Lukashenko immediately stops the execution. We also demand that the Belarusian authorities start a new impartial investigation into the explosions of 2011, 2008 and 2005. We urge Belarus to issue a moratorium on the death penalty.
We are calling on the European Union to consolidate their stand and take immediate action towards extending the sanctions on Belarus.
We must demonstrate a firm position. We shall do everything possible to stop the execution and save Kavalyou and Kanavalau -- the last two witnesses of this horrific crime committed by the Belarusian authorities.
As of the early hours of 16 March the appeal has been endorsed by 23 organizations. If your NGO or you personally would like to add your name, please write to [email protected] and write Belarus in the theme.
THANK YOU!
Avatud Vabariik (Estonia)
Belarusian Tribunal (Netherlands, Estonia, Sweden)
Estonian Institute of Human Rights
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
Kharkiv Human Rights Group
Institute of Economic and Social Problems "Republic"
Sveriges Belarusier
Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan
Human Rights Center "Postup"
Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights
Crimean Human Rights Centre "Действие" (Action)
Kherson City Association of Journalists “Pivden’” (“South”)
Committee Against Torture
Association for Human Rights in Central Asia
Luhansk Regional Mediation Group
Kherson Regional Charity and Health Foundation
Newspaper "Vhoru"
“M’ART” [Youth Alternative], Chernihiv
Public Alternative
Free Belarus Now
Vinnytsa Human Rights Group
CF "Virtus"
Адаптаційний чоловічий центр
"За профессиональную помощь"
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Moscow Helsinki Group
Free Belarus Theatre
Association of Human Rights Monitors on Law Enforcement
Luhansk Regional Committee of Voters of Ukraine
Crimean Section, Association of Human Rights Monitors on Law Enforcement
For Human Rights (Russia)
International Women’s Rights Centre La Strada Ukraine
Andrei Manchuk
Yevgenia Zakrevskaya, defence lawyer
Ludmila Klochko, KHPG
Yelena Ashchenko, KHPG
Vladimir Hlushchenko, KHPG
Svetlana Kusaikina, KHPG
Iryna Rapp, KHPG
Gennady Tokarev, KHPG
Nikolai Kholtobin, KHPG
Alexander Volodarsky, journalist and civic activist
Social Action Centre (Without Borders Project )
Chernihiv Public Committee for Human Rights Protection
Regional Initiatives Foundation
Sergii Kutnii, Ukraine
Sabine Rossmann, Bielefeld, Germany
Olga Morkova, Ukraine
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Polanad, Warsaw
Yana Zaikina, KHPG
Ukrainian Association of Women Defence Lawyers
Pylyp Orlyk Institute for Democracy