Lukashenka Signs Amnesty Law

About 2,000 people will be released.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka signed the Law "On Amnesty in connection with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders". According to the dictator's press service, the document "was adopted in order to implement the principle of humanism and in connection with a significant date in the history of Belarus".

The document defines the categories of persons to be exempted from punishment for crimes that are not related to the grave and especially grave crimes (minors, pregnant women, single women and men with children under 18 years of age, persons who have reached the established retirement age, persons with disabilities of groups I and II, patients with cancer, war veterans, persons injured in service and in the performance of official activities, victims of the Chernobyl disaster, and some other groups of prisoners).

This year's amnesty also covered those convicted under the "drug article". The convicts sentenced to restriction or deprivation of liberty were released from punishment partially, for a period of one year. For example, those sentenced under Part 1, 2, 3 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code (Illicit trafficking of drugs) fall under this article of the bill. The terms of serving the sentence under Article 328 of the Criminal Code for minors were also reduced by two years.

Those who have not been granted amnesty

Political prisoners have not been granted amnesty.

The amnesty also does not apply to persons who were granted amnesty or pardon during 2014-2019 and who have committed an intentional crime again; who have not fully compensated for the harm (damage) caused by crimes, have not paid for the income obtained in a criminal way; who have grossly violated the procedure for serving their sentences; who have been convicted of crimes against the peace and security of mankind, murder, intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm, corruption crimes, criminal acts of a sexual nature, banditry, and terrorism, mass disorders, violation of traffic rules in a state of intoxication, resulting in death or serious bodily injury, crimes related to illicit drug trafficking, and a number of other crimes characterized by high public danger.

It is planned to release from criminal punishment about 6,000 convicts, including about 2,000 - from prison.

The law comes into force from the date of its official publication and is subject to execution within nine months from the date of its coming into force.

We remind that on June 28th, "deputies" adopted the Law "On Amnesty" in two readings.

The document was presented by the new Interior Minister, Yury Karayeu.

The main innovation of the amnesty 2019 is that underage persons will have their sentences reduced by two years or be released from criminal liability. Also, previously, the punishment for those convicted of corruption crimes was reduced by a year - and this time they are not subject to any amnesty.