The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area Grodno District Court.54 Both men filed appeals of the sentences on 28 May 2010.55 Official information from the Supreme Court of Belarus stated that the sentences had been confirmed.56 In a press release, the Council of Europe called on the Belarusian authorities to commute the sentences, “to declare forthwith a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, and to commute the sentences of all prisoners sentenced to death to terms of imprisonment as a firm step to bring the country closer to the Council of Europe”.57 Executions Two persons were executed during the reporting period in Belarus.58 While the dates of the executions of Andrei Zhuk and Vasily Yuzepchuk, both referenced above, were not made public, it is believed that both took place in Minsk around 18 March 2010.59 After this information was leaked, four Belarusian activists protesting against the executions were reportedly detained near President Alexander Lukashenko’s office.60 The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe reacted on 29 April 2010 by passing Resolution 1727, condemning the executions, “which were carried out in conditions of total secrecy”.61 54  Country Profile of Belarus, Hands of Cain Website, 28 May 2010, <http://www.handsoffcain.info/bancadati/schedastato.php?idstato=13000170&idcontinente=20>. 55  Ibid. 56  Response to from the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Belarus to the OSCE, op.cit., note 50. 57  “Belarus: Council of Europe calls to commute two new death sentences”, Press release - 395(2010), 17 May 2010, <https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1622933&Site=DC&BackColorInternet=DBDCF2&BackColorIntranet=FDC86 4&BackColorLogged=FDC864>. 58  Response to from the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Belarus to the OSCE, op.cit., note 50. 59  “Belarus executes two men: Andrei Zhuk and Vasily Yuzepchuk”, 22 March 2010, Amnesty International website, <http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR49/004/2010/en/7b59d62c-8bd3-43ed-97b5-c009263436e0/ eur490042010en.html>. 60  “Belarusian Activists Detained For Protesting Death Penalty”, Radio Free Europe, 23 March 2010, <http://www. rferl.org/content/Belarusian_Activists_Detained_For_Protesting_Death_Penalty/1991821.html >. 61  Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Resolution 1727, Council of Europe website, 29 April 2010, <http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta10/ERES1727.htm>. 10