Belarus to introduce the death penalty for attempted acts of terrorism
The Belarusian authorities plan to introduce the death penalty for attempted acts of terrorism. The relevant amendments to the Criminal Code were passed by the House of Representatives in two readings at once.
The House of Representatives passed the relative amendments to the Criminal Code in two readings.
Maryna Lencheuskaya, a member of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives on National Security, presented a report on the amendments.
The draft law is aimed to restrain destructive elements, as well as demonstrate the state's resolute fight against terrorism.
The bill proposes amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, providing for the possibility of an exceptional punishment for attempted acts of terrorism, reports the press service of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly.
Details of the changes to the Criminal Code were not disclosed.
The current Code provides for the death penalty under terrorism-related articles for:
- committing an act of terrorism against a representative of a foreign state or international organization or murder of a representative of a foreign state or international organization in order to provoke international complications or war or destabilize public order in a foreign state (Part 2 of Article 124);
- committing an act of international terrorism as part of an organized group, or with the use of nuclear energy, radioactive and toxic substances, etc. (Part 3 of Article 126);
- an act of terrorism committed by an organized group, either with the use of a nuclear facility, or with the use of radioactive substances or nuclear materials, strong, toxic chemical or biological substances, or involving the murder of a person (Part 3 of Article 289);
- the murder of a state or public figure, committed with regard to his state or public activity in order to influence decision-making by the authorities, or obstruct political or other public activity, intimidate the population, or destabilize public order (Part 2 of Article 359);
Punishment under other parts and articles of the Criminal Code related to terrorism does not provide for the death penalty. Article 14 of the Criminal Code stipulates that “liability for the attempted crime shall be imposed under the same article of the Special Part of this Code as for the completed crime, with reference to this article”, while Article 67 states that “the death penalty for the preparation of a crime and attempted crime shall not be imposed”.
A number of political prisoners, whose cases are currently pending, are charged with articles related to terrorism, Nasha Niva notes.
