UA 07/93 - Republic of Estonia: death penalty: Vladimir Botchko
Vladimir Botchko, aged 34, was sentenced to death at Harju county court on 16 December 1992. He had been convicted of the rape and murder of a child. AI is concerned that he may face imminent execution.
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: EUR 51/01/93
Distr: UA/SC
UA 07/93 Death Penalty 12 January 1993
REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA: Vladimir BOTCHKO
Amnesty International is concerned that Vladimir Botchko may soon be executed.
According to a report in the Baltic Independent newspaper, Vladimir Botchko,
aged 34, was sentenced to death at the Harju county court on 16 December 1992.
He was convicted of the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in the town
of Paldiski. Vladimir Botchko has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.
If the Supreme Court decides to uphold the death sentence, then Vladimir
Botchko's final recourse will be to petition the President of Estonia for
clemency.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The death penalty is retained in Estonia for three crimes: aggravated murder,
assassination and acts of terrorism. Five people are known to have been
sentenced to death since July 1988, all for the crime of premeditated murder
under aggravated circumstances. In two cases clemency was granted, in another
the sentence was carried out. Amnesty International is continuing to appeal
for commutation of the death sentence passed in another case - that of Mihail
Talyschanov.
The death sentence imposed on Vladimir Botchko is the first to have been passed
by a county court since the new constitution of Estonia came into effect in
July 1992. Previously all capital crimes were tried by the Supreme Court as
the court of first instance. Since 5 October 1992 petitions for clemency are
heard by the President of Estonia. The President receives recommendations
on whether the death sentence should be commuted from the Clemency Commission,
composed of four members of the Estonian Parliament, the Chairman of the Supreme
Court, the Procurator General and the Minister of Justice.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases as a violation
of the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment, as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail
letters in English, French or German or in your own language:
- appealing for commutation of the death sentence passed on Vladimir Botchko;
- explaining Amnesty International's opposition to the death penalty in all
circumstances without exception;
- urging the authorities in the Republic of Estonia to consider the complete
abolition of the death penalty.
Page 2 of UA 07/93
APPEALS TO:
1. Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Estonia:
Rait Maruste
Chairman of the Supreme Court
Pärnu mnt. 7
Tallinn EE01014
Republic of Estonia
Telegrams: Chairman, Supreme Court, Tallinn, Estonia
Salutation: Dear Chairman
2. President of the Republic of Estonia:
Lennart Meri
President of the Republic of Estonia
Lossi plats 1A
Tallinn EE0100
Republic of Estonia
Telegrams: President of Estonia, Tallinn, Estonia
Telephone: + 7 0142 426 200
Faxes: + 7 0142 436 389 (or + 358 298186 via Finland)
Telexes: 173647 VIKING
Salutation: Dear President
3. Minister of Justice of the Republic of Estonia:
Kaido Kama
Minister of Justice
Pärnu mnt. 7
Tallinn EE0104
Republic of Estonia
Telegrams: Minister of Justice, Tallinn, Estonia
Telephone: + 7 0142 445 120
Faxes: + 7 0142 445 120
Salutation: Dear Minister
4. Procurator General of the Republic of Estonia:
Leo Urge
Procurator General
Wismari 7
Tallinn EE0100
Republic of Estonia
Telegrams: Procurator General, Tallinn, Estonia
Telephone: + 7 0142 445 226
Salutation: Dear Procurator General
COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Estonia
accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 23 February 1993.