15 March 2012
No pardon for Minsk metro bombers
MINSK, 15 March (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko decided against the pardon of Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev sentenced to death for the terrorist attack at the Minsk underground on 11 April 2011, the Belarus-1 TV Channel reported on 14 March. The President made this decision in view of a high social danger of the criminals. As BelTA has earlier informed, the Supreme Court pronounced the sentence upon the bombings in Minsk and Vitebsk on 30 November 2011. Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev were found guilty of the terrorist attack in Minsk metro on 11 April 2011. The explosion in Minsk metro killed 15 people and injured many more. The operation of the metro service was disrupted for several days. The court recognized the two as extremely dangerous for the society and sentenced them to death. “The verdict is not subject to appeal,” stated the judge. The two men pleaded partially guilty admitting their involvement in the crimes committed earlier, including the explosions at the entrances of apartment buildings in Vitebsk, illegal handling of explosives, car arson attacks and many more. Moreover, Dmitry Konovalov pleaded guilty in two blasts in Vitebsk in September 2005 and an explosion at the night between 3 and 4 July in Minsk.БЕЛТА