To ensure Belarus’ national interests, MPs approved bill to terminate co-operation with GRECO

On December 13th, senators approved the draft law On Termination of International Treaties on the Fight against Corruption during the 11th session of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus

Presenting the bill to senators, Belarus’ Prosecutor General Andrei Shved recalled that our country voluntarily accepted obligations to participate in mechanisms of pan-European co-operation in the fight against corruption, without being a member of the Council of Europe. In January 2011, Belarus became a member of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).

“The Prosecutor General’s Office, in co-operation with other interested government agencies and organisations, made the necessary efforts to implement all the recommendations of the organisation, sending the relevant information to the GRECO Executive Committee,” said Andrei Shved. “At the same time, many recommendations were of a political nature and required amendments to the Constitution and national legislation, which is unacceptable. For example, some of the recommendations proposed limiting or abolishing some powers of the Head of State.”

Moreover, in March 2022, the Council of Europe decided to suspend the right of representation of Belarus in GRECO, but our country had to pay contributions.

“The adoption of such a measure was justified by the Council of Europe’s condemnation of Belarus’ support for the Russian Federation in alleged aggression against Ukraine,” said Andrei Shved. “The same decision determined that our country can be allowed to participate in the GRECO work only if the report on Belarus is considered, but without the right to vote in their discussion and adoption.”

Thus, in order to ensure the national interests of the country, the draft law envisages the denunciation by Belarus of the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, the Additional Protocol to the Convention, the termination of the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities, as well as the recognition of Belarus’ laws, by which these international treaties are ratified by Belarus, as invalid.