The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area Grunov on 4 April 2014.122 In line with its internal regulations, the Human Rights Committee issued interim measures of protection, requesting Belarus to stay the executions for the time of consideration of the communications. The Republic of Belarus considers this procedure to contradict its national law.123 The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus stated that “concern remains regarding due process in death penalty cases heard before closed doors and prejudice towards defendants publicized by the highest level of power”.124 The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions underlined that the proceedings in death penalty cases should meet the highest level of respect of fair trial and due process safeguards and urged Belarus to ensure these safeguards.125 He also recalled “that executions in secret violate international human rights law standards regarding the imposition of the death penalty”, and that the provision of information about executions in advance to the convicted persons, their families and lawyers is a crucial requirement of due process.126 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA**** In the United States, 20 states: Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia, have abolished the death penalty, or introduced a moratorium either in law or in practice, or have suspended executions. The abolition of capital punishment in New Mexico, Connecticut and Maryland is not retroactive; therefore, inmates still remain on death row in these states. During the reporting period, two states introduced temporary moratoria on executions. On 11 February 2014, the Governor of the State of Washington proclaimed a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty in the state, saying that capital punishment was 122  Ibid. 123  Ibid. 124  Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, A/HRC/26/44, 22 April 2014. On 14 October 2013, following calls on Belarus to abolish the death penalty issued on the World Day against the Death Penalty, President Alexander Lukashenko publicly justified the use of the death penalty in Belarus. He stated that some crimes were so grave that they could not be forgiven. “Offenders understand it only when you talk to them in their language,” he explained. (“Belarus: Lukashenko fully justifies death penalty”, Against Death Penalty in the World, 14 October 2013, <http://english.nessunotocchicaino.it/archivio_news/201310.php?iddocumento=17311161&mover=0>). 125 A/HRC/26/36/Add.2, op. cit., note 101. 126  Ibid. 30