Sukalo explained why amendments will be introduced into Criminal Code

Amendments will be made to the Criminal Code of Belarus due to the need to introduce alternative types of punishment to imprisonment for committing less serious and non-violent crimes, Chairman of the Supreme Court Valentin Sukalo told reporters, when commenting on the results of a meeting with the President’s participation on certain issues of improving legislation on criminal liability

Valentin Sukalo recalled that last year Belarus adopted the Legal Policy Concept, which already noted some imbalance between the norms of criminal legislation, “To correct this imbalance, the Supreme Court analysed certain sanctions for less serious and non-violent crimes. We arrive at the conclusion that these sanctions need to be adjusted, primarily, in order to introduce alternative types of punishment to imprisonment.”

According to the Supreme Court Chairman, the Criminal Code of Belarus today has 10 types of criminal punishment, with imprisonment ranked seventh in terms of severity.

“When the sanctions for less serious and non-violent crimes have nothing more than imprisonment, it is very difficult for courts to respect such principles as proportionality, individuality and fairness. In order to facilitate the courts’ work, the Supreme Court proposed to adjust these sanctions and envisage mandatory alternatives to imprisonment, making it easier for the courts to determine the fair type of punishment.

To review the sanctions, a special working group of the Supreme Court representatives will be set up. The current Criminal Code of Belarus is already 24 years old, so a range of norms require revision, Valentin Sukalo is convinced. At the same time, he once again stressed that this doesn’t refer to sanctions in relation to serious and especially serious crimes. Proposals for amending the Criminal Code will be prepared in the near future.