The administration of the Frunzensky district of Minsk discussed upcoming innovations in the legislation of Belarus on criminal liability.
We are talking about the innovations of the draft law “On Amending Codes on Issues of Criminal Liability”.
The most pressing issues of the document were discussed with representatives of the prosecutor's office, the court, the Investigative Committee, the District Department of Internal Affairs and the public by the head of the Standing Committee on Legislation of the House of Representatives, Marina Lenchevskaya.
The Minsk-Novosti agency reports this, noting that, as was stated at the meeting, if the need arises, the draft law will be revised.
Potential changes
It is proposed to amend the Criminal, Criminal Procedure, and Criminal Executive Codes of Belarus.
There may also be changes to the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Procedural-Executive Code of Administrative Offenses.
In total, the agenda includes a review of sanctions for 97 types of crimes. For 65 of them, they want to add alternative, less severe, punishment measures.
The remaining 32 crimes are considered from the perspective of the possibility of changing the amount of punishment and introducing additional measures of influence as an alternative, such as a fine or deprivation of certain rights.
According to Lenchevskaya, the proposed adjustments are aimed at eliminating the “existing imbalance in sanctions.”
They will allow courts to “approach sentencing more flexibly, taking into account both the public danger of the act and the individual characteristics of the offender.”
Who can have their imprisonment cancelled?
It is proposed not to deprive of liberty:
– single women and men raising children under 14 years of age or children with disabilities;
- disabled persons of the first group;
- minors who have committed a less serious crime for the first time, which does not involve the use of violence or threats.
However, the innovation does not affect crimes related to extremism.
And if amnesty is applied and the conviction is removed, former prisoners must find employment.
Bank cards
Another pressing issue is adjusting the punishment for disseminating bank card details.
Here it is proposed to take into account the circumstances and personalities of the accused.
As the deputy noted, minors who “don’t even think about the fact that they are committing a serious crime as part of an organized group” are often deprived of their freedom.
According to her, while these children essentially still see a computer in front of them, the organizers of the crimes that draw them into this are outside of Belarus, so it is difficult to identify them.
Drug related crimes
Among other things, they plan to review liability for drug crimes.
In particular, it is proposed to reduce the minimum term for drug trafficking as part of an organized crime group to 8 years, but leave the maximum the same – 20 years.
