In 2021, 0.14% criminal trials in Belarus ended in acquittal

February 21, BPN. According to the Supreme Court, last year the acquittal rate in criminal cases amounted to 0.14% (0.2% in 2020) in Belarus.

In 2021, the courts acquitted 51 people, while in 2020 – 93.

The trials resulted in 36,356 convictions last year (34,572 in 2020).

Most of the acquitted had been charged with crimes against life and health (17), property and economic activity (13), and constitutional rights and freedoms of individuals and citizens (6).

The share of those convicted of committing serious and especially serious crimes was at 12.5%.

In 2021, 13,414 people (36.9% of all convictions) were convicted of theft of property by various means, and another 5,406 (14.9%) were convicted of not paying child support or failing to compensate the state for child support.

The number of people convicted of crimes related to trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors or analogues increased from 2,002 in 2020 to 2,050 in 2021 (5.6% of the total criminal record).

2,731 people (7.5%) were convicted of crimes against public order and morality, and 1,894 (5.2%) were convicted of evading various punishments.

640 people were convicted of corruption crimes (6.4% less than in 2020, when 684 people were convicted), 704 people were convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, giving control of the vehicle to a drunk person or refusing to take alcohol breath test (843 a year earlier).

13,592 people (37.4%) were convicted last year of crimes committed while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or toxic substances. 14,217 convicts (39.1%) committed a crime with an unexpunged criminal record.

The number of people sentenced to imprisonment in 2021 increased by 315 persons and amounted to 8,065 (22.2%). 8.673 people (23.9%) were punished with restriction of freedom and 6.663 (18.3%) with arrest.

Last year one person was sentenced to death and six to life imprisonment.