MINSK -- Four Belarusian activists protesting recent executions were detained today near President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's office in Minsk, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.
Activists Ales Byalyatsky, Valyantsin Stefanovich, and Iryna Toustsik along with journalist Syarhey Sys were protesting last week's execution of Andrey Zhuk and Vasil Yuzepchuk.
The two had been convicted in 2009 of several crimes, including murder.
Amnesty International has condemned the executions and called on Lukashenka to impose a moratorium on the use of capital punishment.
Belarus is the last country in Europe to retain the death penalty. There were no executions in Belarus in 2009.
Activists Ales Byalyatsky, Valyantsin Stefanovich, and Iryna Toustsik along with journalist Syarhey Sys were protesting last week's execution of Andrey Zhuk and Vasil Yuzepchuk.
The two had been convicted in 2009 of several crimes, including murder.
Amnesty International has condemned the executions and called on Lukashenka to impose a moratorium on the use of capital punishment.
Belarus is the last country in Europe to retain the death penalty. There were no executions in Belarus in 2009.
