EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: EUR 50/05/92

Distr: UA/SC

UA 150/92Death Penalty8 May 1992

UKRAINE:Vladimir GURTOVOY

(Name in cyrillic)Владимир ГУРТОВОЙ

Amnesty International is concerned that 22-year-old Vladimir GURTOVOY may soon be executed. He was sentenced to death by a court in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, in November 1991, having been found guilty of murder. An appeal against his sentence was turned down, and he now has a petition for clemency pending with the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet. With the demise of the federal structures of government, the Supreme Soviet at republican level has become the last possible level of appeal for prisoners facing the death penalty. If Vladimir GURTOVOY's petition is turned down by the Clemency Commission of the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet, he faces imminent execution.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases as a violation of the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telegrams/telephone calls/express and airmail letters

- appealing for the commutation of Vladimir GURTOVOY's death sentence;

- explaining Amnesty International's opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances;

- asking that the authorities in Ukraine refrain from carrying out further executions and that they consider complete abolition of the death penalty.

APPEALS TO:

1. The President of Ukraine

Ukraina,

g.Kiev,

ul. Kirova, 6

Prezidentu Ukrainy KRAVCHUKU, L.M.

Telegrams: Ukraina, Kiev, ul. Kirova 6, Prezidentu Kravchuku, L.M.

[Salutation: Dear President]

2. The Chairman of the Clemency Commission of the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet

Ukraina,

g.Kiev,

Komissiya po voprosam pomilovaniya

Verkhovnogo Soveta Ukrainy,

Predsedatelyu.

Telegrams:Ukraina, Kiev, Komissiya po voprosam pomilovaniya, Verkhovnogo Soveta Ukrainy, Predsedatelyu

[Salutation: Dear Chairman]

3. The Procurator-General of Ukraine

Ukraina,

252601 g. Kiev,

ul. Reznitskaya 13/15,

Prokuratura Ukrainy,

Generalnomu Prokuroru SHISHKINU, V.I.

Telegrams:Ukraina, 252601 Kiev, ul. Reznitskaya 13/15, Prokuratura Ukrainy, Generalnomu Prokuroru SHISHKINU, V.I.

Telephone:+ 7 044 29 67 41

[Salutation: Dear Procurator-General]

page 2 of UA 150/92...

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Anatoly Ben, of "GOLOS UKRAINY"

Ukraina,

252047 g. Kiev,

ul. Nesterova 4,

Redaktsiya "GOLOS UKRAINY",

BENU, A.

O. Strigal, of "MOLOD UKRAINY"

Ukraina,

252047 g. Kiev,

prospekt Peremohy 50,

Redaktsiya "MOLOD UKRAINY",

STRIGALU, O.

and to diplomatic representatives of Ukraine in your country (in many cases these may be contacted through the embassies of the Russian Federation).

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat or your Section office if sending appeals after 19 June 1992.