The new regulation is part of the criminal law reforms, which are intended to better combat extremists and opponents of the state, according to the official statement. However, observers suspect that Lukashenko wants to secure the loyalty of the official and military apparatus.
Incidentally, the interpretation of the crime is a matter for the courts, which are controlled by the state apparatus. Prison sentences are also set to become tougher in the future: “terrorist propaganda” and “defamation of the armed forces” have recently also been punished with imprisonment. In addition, the pre-trial detention, which is often imposed on members of the opposition in Belarus, will be increased from three to ten days. Belarus is thus orienting itself towards similar laws of its most important ally, Russia.
Belarus is the only country in Europe that has not yet abolished the death penalty. So far, however, it has “only” been imposed on convictions for murder or terrorism. Death sentences are carried out by a shot in the back of the head.
