Aleksandr Lukashenko reported by Prosecutor General: crime rates, fight against corruption

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko was reported by Prosecutor General Andrei Shved, and the meeting focused on a number of issues, including the crime situation in Belarus

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The Head of State asked the Prosecutor General to briefly report on the issue, “Actually, I am receiving this information. We will think of how to sum up the results. You will join the State Secretary [of the Security Council] to prepare a meeting. We will think again about what conclusions we need to draw from the current situation in connection with these results. I am interested in more specific issues related to the work of the Prosecutor’s Office.”
In particular, the President asked to report on the work of the commission headed by Mr. Shved to review appeals from Belarusian citizens regarding their offenses, “What are your impressions, opinions, and conclusions? How should we progress? Should we preserve this commission, or is it no longer needed? I would like it to continue working. Anyway, it envisages additional opinions, an additional point of view.”
Another topic of the report tackled the fight against corruption crimes, and Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “We somehow talk less about this issue. The situation has not worsened or improved, but the related cases are still registered. What is the situation here, do you think?”
The election campaign was also discussed. The Head of State thanked people for their support of the current government and asked Mr. Shved if there had been any significant violations during the election and what aspects need to receive attention, “We really should not hold pseudo-democratic elections, as it happens in the West. They teach us, but not always conduct their election in a democratic way, they conduct it not everywhere, and probably not at all. In turn, we must do this very democratically. This is the time when people decide everything. Therefore, from this point of view, have we had any violations, have the prosecutors noticed anything that needs to be worked on?”
Describing the crime rate in the country in 2024, the Prosecutor General noted a 14 percent reduction compared to the 2023 level, “This is the lowest crime rate in the entire period of our country’s sovereignty. In many respects, Mr. President, this is due to the decisions [and tasks] that you have been giving to the law enforcement agencies for many years and your principled position. At the same time, we realise that there is no reason for complacency, because there are trends in the structure of crime that require constant attention.”

The Prosecutor General’s Office said that the co-ordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies allowed reducing the crime rate. The total number of crimes registered in the republic in 2024 compared to 2023 decreased by 14.2 percent, the drop was noted in all regions. The number of particularly serious crimes fell by 13.7 percent. The number of murders, rapes and violent acts of a sexual nature, thefts and robberies decreased. There was also a 13.5 percent decline in the number of registered crimes committed under the influence of alcohol, as well as a 10.9 percent decrease in the number of crimes committed by a group of persons.

The work of the commission on the return of the departed citizens to their homeland will be continued. 
“We believe it contributes to solving a number of issues,” Mr. Shved noted. According to him, the commission has already considered 241 applications, 19 people have already returned to Belarus (some came and returned several times). “About 40 persons have been given explanations that they can safely return: we have no claims to them. But I know that some of them are being ‘processed’ quite tightly by foreign intelligence agencies. We know such facts. We will give the floor to those people, who will be returning, and from them you will hear and learn the whole truth about how ‘sweet’ life is abroad, how Belarusians are treated and how and who prevents the return of our citizens to their homeland,” the Prosecutor General emphasised.
“Anyone who wishes to return please apply. You will receive objective information, and all the guarantees established by the Head of State’s Decree will certainly be fulfilled. You will safely enter our country, as 19 people have already done. You can communicate with each of them. Everything that is written abroad, that someone was allegedly detained here, and so on — we do not know such facts, except for one case: the person returned here, but was detained for committing another crime. This does not mean that if a person has returned, they have immunity from liability for other crimes,” Mr. Shved explained.
On the President’s instructions, the commission is also studying the materials of citizens who were convicted of extremist offences and applied to him for pardon. “The commission’s work was taken into account by the Head of State when making decisions on amnesty,” the Prosecutor General added.

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PRESIDENT INSTRUCTED HIS PROXIES NOT TO STEP ASIDE THEIR WORK WITH PEOPLE  

Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed gratitude to the Belarusian people and directed the authorities to work in a way so as to justify their high trust. The President thanked not only his proxies for the work but also all those who cast their vote, “Belarusians should know that we will try to do everything so that people do not regret about casting their vote in our favour.”

According to the Belarusian leader, there was a plan to hold the ‘original, unusual’ election in the country — ‘in a quiet and calm manner, not the way someone wanted’. “They [opponents of the state power] still wonder how that was possible in a country located in the centre of Europe... It's possible, if there is a normal dialogue and compromise with the people, if there is an agreement. Actually, this must be justified, no matter what the cost,” the Head of State said.
Addressing the proxies, the Head of State asked them not to abandon their active work in society, “Moreover, it will be somehow indecent to leave: after all, you have had a lot of meetings with people, and they may think: ‘well, they came, talked and left — and not visible any more’. You should be present everywhere. Inform the authorities, if you see any shortcomings — or you can report to me, and we will take measures.”
The President also recalled the agreement to accumulate all the issues raised during the proxies’ visits to labour collectives and organisations, during their communication with people, and to submit them to the Head of State in writing. “We must definitely implement the issues that we are responsible for. This is actually the first step of working with people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

At a meeting, the President has announced his intention to set up a commission for proposals to form new Government. The Head of State asked his proxies to join this work, “I would like you to have your say on the Government, too. It is necessary to set up a commission comprising of top officials. The Government is currently fulfilling its duties (after resigning). We now need to look through the entire list, starting from the PM to heads of concerns and governors.

Kochanova, Sergeyenko [chairpersons of the chambers of Parliament], the Prosecutor General and so on — these are the top officials on this commission. I would like you to make your proposals; we will consider your opinion when making decisions. I understand perfectly well that there are people who can express their opinion. Won’t Dmitry Yevgenievich [Dmitry Shevtsov, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Commission on Health, Physical Culture, Family and Youth Policy] give his opinion on the health system and the minister? Sure, he will. You know what’s going on there in detail while we lack these details. Now it is very important to form a strong Government that will not complain about difficulties. It is difficult everywhere, and it will not be easy. However, we need to move, we need to work. I appointed many ministers before the election, but this does not mean that they have received an indulgence. I would like us to get detailed information on all of them. Everything needs to be taken into account and analysed in order to make appropriate proposals.”

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by