Belarusian deputies in the final reading adopted amendments on the death penalty for treason

The lower house of the Belarusian parliament, in the second final reading, adopted amendments to the Criminal Code on “discrediting” the army and the death penalty for treason for officials and military personnel.

Deputies introduced amendments to the punishment under the article on treason committed by an official or military personnel According to the amendments, officials can now face the death penalty for treason against the state. Previously, the maximum penalty under this article was imprisonment from 10 to 20 years.

Changes are also being made to the article on “discrediting the Republic of Belarus” . According to the amendments, the legislation introduces liability for “dissemination of knowingly false information discrediting the Armed Forces, other troops and military formations, paramilitary organizations of the Republic of Belarus.” The maximum penalty under the Criminal Code for this is four years in prison.

In addition, articles on “propaganda of terrorism” and “violation of requirements for the protection of state secrets” will be introduced into the Criminal Code.

In addition, the new amendments provide for the possibility of increasing the period of detention of those suspected of espionage, treason and a number of other anti-state crimes from 3 to 10 days, and the period of filing charges - up to 20 days.

For the amendments to come into force, they must be approved by the Council of the Republic and then submitted to Alexander Lukashenko for signature.