Strasbourg - The Council of Europe warned the Yugoslav republic of Montenegro yesterday that it could be shut out of the organisation if it carries out a death sentence handed down to two of its citizens.
A court in Podgorica on Thursday found the two Montenegrin men, Slavko Devic and Rado Arsovic, guilty of murdering a Slovenian truck driver, Aljosa Polensek, and delivered the death penalty for both of the accused.
"I wish to bring to the attention of the Montenegrin authorities that a moratorium on executions and a commitment to the abolition of the death penalty is a key condition for accession to the Council of Europe," said Lord Russell-Johnston, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council.
