Minsk subway bombers get death penalty

A Belarusian court has sentenced to death two men for a bomb attack in the Minsk subway in April that killed 15 people and wounded around 200 others. Judge Aleksandr Fedortsov read out the 114-page verdict in its entirety to a packed courtroom in the closely watched trial of Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev. Minsk subway bombers get death penalty Belarus is the only European state that carries out executions. In the same verdict, the men were also convicted of a string of violent attacks prior to the subway tragedy. The court convicted Konovalov of planting the bomb in Minsk's busy Oktyabrskaya subway station and found both men guilty of constructing and preparing the explosive. During the trial, prosecutors said the men chose the central station in order "to kill as many people as possible." Delivering the verdict, the judge read out the names of all of those killed or injured in the subway explosion. The trial began on September 15. Konovalov initially admitted to carrying out the April bombing in Minsk but then refused to make an opening or closing statement or to testify in his own defense. In addition, Konovalov was convicted of carrying out another bombing in Minsk on July 4, 2008, that injured 54 people. Kovalev was convicted of assisting in that attack as well. Konovalov was also convicted of carrying out a terrorist bombing in Vitsebsk in September 2005 that injured nearly 50 people. Konovalov and Kovalev, both 25, are factory workers from the city of Vitsebsk and have been friends since childhood. Prosecutors offered no motive for the attacks, other than that the two men sought to disrupt the country's social order. The April subway bombing triggered a harsh crackdown on dissent by the government of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Konovalov and Kovalev are seen in the courtroom (Beta)

Minsk subway bombers get death penalty

Belarus is the only European state that carries out executions.

In the same verdict, the men were also convicted of a string of violent attacks prior to the subway tragedy.

The court convicted Konovalov of planting the bomb in Minsk's busy Oktyabrskaya subway station and found both men guilty of constructing and preparing the explosive. During the trial, prosecutors said the men chose the central station in order "to kill as many people as possible."

Delivering the verdict, the judge read out the names of all of those killed or injured in the subway explosion.

The trial began on September 15. Konovalov initially admitted to carrying out the April bombing in Minsk but then refused to make an opening or closing statement or to testify in his own defense.

In addition, Konovalov was convicted of carrying out another bombing in Minsk on July 4, 2008, that injured 54 people. Kovalev was convicted of assisting in that attack as well.

Konovalov was also convicted of carrying out a terrorist bombing in Vitsebsk in September 2005 that injured nearly 50 people.

Konovalov and Kovalev, both 25, are factory workers from the city of Vitsebsk and have been friends since childhood. Prosecutors offered no motive for the attacks, other than that the two men sought to disrupt the country's social order.

The April subway bombing triggered a harsh crackdown on dissent by the government of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.