Amendments to Belarus’ Criminal Code envisaging death penalty for attempted acts of terrorism approved
It has been proposed to introduce capital punishment for attempted acts of terrorism in Belarus, and – during today’s meeting of the eighth session of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the seventh convocation – the senators have approved a bill to amend the Criminal Code. The draft law was prepared to act as a deterrent measure against destructive elements, while also demonstrating the country’s resolute struggle against terrorist activities. Amendments to the Criminal Code were proposed: to apply an exceptional measure of punishment in the form of the death penalty for attempted acts of terrorism.
In addition, the Council of the Republic members have approved a bill on amendments to the laws on criminal liability. The draft law is aimed at bringing other laws into line with the Constitution, the Criminal Code, the Labour Code, and the law On Protection of Personal Data, as well as improving the regulation of legal relations in the field of protection of children's rights, and activities of trade unions.
The Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic for Legislation and State Administration, Sergei Sivets, explained that the draft law corrects the approach to the use of an exceptional measure of punishment: death penalty.
“In particular, it provides that the death penalty for preparation for a crime and attempted crime is not imposed, except for those involving the death of people: attempts to commit the murder of a representative of a foreign state or an international organisation in order to provoke international complications or war, attempts to commit an act of international terrorism or an act of terrorism using atomic energy facilities, radioactive substances or nuclear materials, chemical or biological substances, attempts to commit the murder of a state or public figure in connection with his state or public activities in order to influence decision-making by authorities, intimidate the population, destabilise public order,” Mr. Sivets noted.
