March 12, Pozirk. Belarusian law enforcement officers and rescuers and their families will be denied access to clinics run by the interior ministry if found guilty of minor political offenses, according to a directive published on the National Legal Internet Portal and set to take effect tomorrow.
Six of the eight offenses listed in the document are currently used for politically-motivated persecution of regime critics in Belarus, including sharing banned content, a charge that has been used to punish thousands of opposition supporters.
Reposts, reactions, shares and donations to opposition initiatives are considered minor offenses in Belarus, but may also lead to criminal charges.
Other offenses listed in the directive include blocking traffic, sharing Nazi symbols, disobeying police officers, insulting officials, violating the order of holding mass events as well as drunk driving and prostitution.
The new rules will apply to investigators, police, rescuers, forensic services’ employees and State Control Committee officials, as well as their families with some exceptions, such as people with disabilities and minor children.
