Responsibility for extremism and participation in military activities has been enhanced in Belarus. The law was adopted by the parliament in two readings on April 4 and was signed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka on the same day.
Criminal responsibility for extremism and participation in military activities abroad will be introduced. The law has been published at the National Legal Internet Portal today, on April 22.
The existing law has received some amendments to prevent extremist activities and military activities abroad. It also forbids using so-called Molotov cocktails for antisocial and evil purposes.
The Criminal Code will get two new articles - Creation of extremist groupings and Financing of extremist activities. People returned guilty of these crimes will be sentenced to the restriction of liberty for up to 5 years or imprisoned for 3-7 years.
There will be criminal responsibility for the transportation of materials containing appeals for extremism and advertising such activities.
The administrative responsibility for the distribution of information containing appeals for extremism will be enhanced and expanded.
Belarusian citizens or residents involved in military activities abroad will be sentenced to the restriction of liberty for up to five years and imprisoned for 2-5 years if there are no traces of a crime according to article #133 of the Criminal Code.
People hiring and encouraging Belarusians to take part in an armed grouping and financing of such activities will be imprisoned for 5-10 years if there are no traces of a crime according to article #132 ‘Recruitment, training usage and financing of hirelings’.
The law will come into force 10 days after its official publication.
