Belarus Bans ‘Political Offenders’, Senior Officials And Security Officers From Leaving Country

The amendments have been adopted today.

Belarus has changed the law “On the Procedure for Departure from the Republic of Belarus and Entry into the Republic of Belarus of Citizens of the Republic of Belarus”. The amended law was published today, on May 16, on the National Legal Internet Portal. The amendments have already been adopted today.

The web portal tells who was banned from travelling abroad.

Ban for ‘political offenders’ and with the permission of the KGB

The KGB will be able to restrict travel not only for those who are registered with state security agencies, but also for those whose “departure contradicts the interests of the national security of the Republic of Belarus”. They can issue restrictions for up to six months. There are now details on affected social categories and on grounds.

Individuals “against whom an administrative process is being conducted for committing administrative offences against public order” will also be prohibited from travelling “to ensure the execution of verdicts to impose and fine collection”.

Previously, debtors were not released from Belarus either, but this concerned those who had already received a fine and did not pay it. Now the departure will also be prohibited for those against whom the administrative process is underway, and the decision of the court has not yet been issued.

“Offences against public order” include the “political” articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses that are so well known to the Belarusian people: Insubordination to an official's legitimate order or requirement in the exercise of official authority by a person, violation of the procedure for organizing or holding mass events, and so on.

Prohibition for the security officials

Top officials will be able to go abroad only with the permission of Aliaksandr Lukashenka:

Chairmen of the Regional and Minsk City Executive Committees;

Head of the Security Service of Lukashenka;

Head of the Operational Analytical Center of Lukashenka;

Chairman of the State Security Committee,

Minister of Internal Affairs;

Minister of Foreign Affairs;

Minister of Defense;

Minister for Emergency Situations;

Chairman of the State Border Committee;

Chairman of the State Customs Committee;

Chairman of the Investigative Committee;

Chairman of the State Committee for Forensic Examinations;

Head of the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Animals and Plants.

The departure from Belarus of “heads of state bodies, as well as heads and employees of state organizations providing activities and maintenance of state bodies who have been granted access to state secrets” will be determined by the government.

This law provides that the departure of security forces abroad will be “determined by local regulation” of the relevant departments. Probably, they will enshrine the norm "in agreement with the leadership." This will apply to military personnel, employees, workers and civilian personnel of military units and paramilitary organizations of Belarus:

Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus;

Border Service agencies;

Interior Ministry Troops;

State Security agencies;

Transportation Corps;

Lukashenka's security services;

Operational and Analytical Center of Lukashenka;

Financial investigation bodies of the State Control Committee;

Investigative Committee;

State Committee of Forensic Examinations;

Law enforcement agencies;

Emergency situations bodies and divisions;

State Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora of Lukashenka,

State Courier Service of the Ministry of Communications and Informatization.

The law also provides that they may be banned from leaving the country “in order to ensure the national security interests till the termination of the circumstances preventing departure”.

Also, if this social category has a biometric passport, they are obliged to transfer it to the personnel department of their organization for the duration of their service.

When will the restriction come into force?

The ban for "political offenders" comes into force six months after the official publication of this law.

Other regulations - immediately after the official publication of this law.