On 18 June 2018, Mr Theerasak Longji was executed by lethal injection in Thailand.

The country would, next year, have marked a decade since the last execution and therefore joined the list of countries with a de facto moratorium on the use of the death penalty. This is what the European Union expected, given its discussions with the Thai authorities. Against this background, Mr Theerasak's execution represents a clear step backwards.

The European Union is opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances and aims at its universal abolition. The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.

The European Union calls on the Government of Thailand to refrain from any future executions, and work towards a moratorium and the eventual abolishing of the death penalty.