Lower house approves death sentence for high treason

February 21, BPN. The House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Belarusian National Assembly, has passed the second reading of a bill expanding the use of the death penalty.

If enacted as it stands, public officials and military servicemen might face the death penalty for high treason, the bill says.

It would introduce new measures against extremist and terrorist crimes. For instance, spreading deliberately false information or discrediting military and paramilitary organizations of Belarus would be classified as discrediting the state.

The bill would allow authorities to confiscate property and raise fines for so-called “anti-state crimes.” In the future, these fines could range from 18,500 ($6,630) to 1,850,000 rubels ($6.6 million).

The bill contains new provisions carrying punishment for terrorism propaganda and failure to protect state secrets.

People who plan sabotage could be exempt from criminal liability if they cooperate with police to prevent a crime, the bill says.

The bill has yet to be approved by the upper chamber of the Belarusian National Assembly and signed into law by Alaksandr Lukašenka.

Belarus is the only country in Europe to use the death penalty. It is usually applied for aggravated murder but is also a possible punishment for deadly acts of terrorism. In May 2022, authorities introduced the death penalty for attempted acts of terrorism.