Human Rights Information Agency "Express-Chronicle"

English Weekly News Digest # 480

10 December 1996

Justice Minister Sergei Golovaty declared that Ukraine violated its promise given to the Council of Europe (CE) to adhere to a moratorium on the carrying out of death sentences, it was reported on 29 November by the Ukrainian information agency. Golovaty stated that this year more than 100 people had been executed, of whom 89 were executed during the first six months of 1996, which comprised a shameful violation of the promise to suspend executions in return for membership of the CE. The CE and Amnesty International (AI) condemned this state of affairs. AI reported that only China has committed more executions this year than Ukraine. This was reported by OMRI, citing Radio Liberty and Agence France-Press. Since 1993, in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, information about executions is a state secret.