Belarus approves death penalty for officials convicted of high treason

FILE PHOTO: Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko attends a news conference in Minsk, Belarus, February 16, 2023. BelTA/Handout via REUTERS

(Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a law on Thursday allowing for the use of the death penalty against officials and army servicemen convicted of high treason, his office said.

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, is the only country in Europe that still applies the death penalty. It already exists for crimes such as murder or for acts of terrorism.