A/HRC/29/43 All were noted political opponents of the President. According to numerous testimonies and accounts collected by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Human Rights Committee, the disappearances, some of which were committed on busy streets, were assisted by actual and former members of the law enforcement agencies. The authorities merely notify the relatives of the victims every three months that there is “no result” in any of the cases and extend the investigation for a further three months. 67. The Special Rapporteur reiterates his call that the fate of the disappeared persons urgently be investigated, given that, until the cases are solved, trust in the judiciary and the public authorities cannot be restored. H. Death penalty 68. Since 2010, 10 people – Andrei Zhuk, Vasil Yuzepchuk, Andrei Burdyka, Aleh Hryshkavets, Ihar Mialik, Uladzislau Kavaliou, Dzmitry Kanavalau, Rygor Yuzepchuk, Pavel Sialiun and Alyaksandr Hrynou – have been executed in Belarus.38 In 2014 alone, there were three executions – of Alyaksandr Hrynou, Pavel Syalun and Rygor Yuzepchuk – after a period of 24 months with no executions. 69. The Special Rapporteur is concerned at a new death sentence that was handed down on 18 March 2015 by the Rechytsa district court against Siarhei Ivanou at the end of a trial which had been held in camera.39 70. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that death sentences continue to be implemented while individual appeals in these cases have been registered with the Human Rights Committee, and the Government has been informed that emergency proceedings regarding these cases have been launched.40 When Alyaksandr Hrunou was executed in November 2014, his case was pending before the Committee, which subsequently expressed its concern that Belarus had ”executed a person whose complaint was still under consideration by the Committee��.41 71. Pavel Syalun and Rygor Yuzepchuk were executed in April 2014.42 The Special Rapporteur notes the statement by Pavel Syalun’s mother, who was informed of the execution only when she came to visit her son at the prison, where she was told that “He has departed, in accordance with his sentence” (see A/HRC/26/NGO/113, p. 2). Similarly, the mother of Alyaksandr Hrunou learned of the execution days after it took place, when she received a parcel with his clothes from the penitentiary. 72. The establishment in December 2012 of a parliamentary working group on the death penalty was viewed by the Special Rapporteur as a promising development (A/HRC/26/44, para. 70). However, according to information available, there has not been any progress to date. 38 39 40 41 42 See Coalition report (see footnote 4), p. 4; and Belarus Actions, “Urgent Action: Belarus must stop imminent execution: Eduard Lykau”, 11 November 2014. Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, “Death penalty: concern at the latest events in Belarus and Russia”, 20 March 2015. FIDH, Forced Labour and Pervasive Violations of Workers’ Rights in Belarus, 20 December 2014, p. 9. OHCHR, “UN Human Rights Committee deplores Belarus execution”, press release, 14 November 2014. Human Rights Watch, UPR Submission (see footnote 34). 13