Highlights of meeting on amnesty and criminal legislation with Lukashenko’s participation: individual approach and fairness

Press Secretary of the President of Belarus Natalya Eismont, after a meeting with the Head of State on the topic of improving legislation on criminal liability, told reporters about the highlights of the event, BelTA reports.

Natalya Eismont recalled that two topics – resonant for society – were discussed: an amnesty and improving measures of criminal liability for certain types of crimes, particularly less serious crimes. Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakov and Chairman of the Supreme Court Valentin Sukalo reported to the President. “The Head of State supported the approaches of the speakers on the main topics discussed today,” said Natalya Eismont.

According to her, the discussion, which lasted about two hours, primarily relied on two most important principles, the observance of which the Head of State has repeatedly stressed. “Throughout the meeting the President was underlining the need for an individual approach and the principle of fairness,” the Press Secretary emphasised.

Aleksandr Lukashenko drew special attention of the responsible persons to certain points. “For example, the President spoke about the work of the Commission on Pardons under the President of the Republic of Belarus. Here the principles and requirements of the President are as follows: the work of the commission must be constantly improved, and the President expects proposals from the commission,” noted Natalya Eismont. Undoubtedly, the commission’s proposals put forward to the Head of State’s level should be based on the principle of fairness and an individual approach.

During the meeting, the work of law enforcement agencies and their individual structural units – juvenile affairs inspectorates and the Department for Execution of Sentences – was also tackled.

“Issues related to drug crimes were discussed separately. Here the role of the juvenile affairs commissions is clear and it is obvious that the President expects the work of these commissions to be strengthened. This signal was given today,” the spokesperson added.

At the same time, the work of law enforcement officers must necessarily be based on the principle of justice while any manifestations of the show-off in our performance evaluation system are absolutely unacceptable. “The President spoke about this more than once before; today he repeated this for the Interior Minister, in particular,” noted Natalya Eismont.

The work of correctional institutions and the Department for Execution of Sentences was discussed during the meeting in connection with the upcoming amnesty and pardon. The President sees the need to strengthen the role of correctional institutions and take their opinion into account when making decisions on amnesty or pardon, since it is there that they know about the behaviour of those serving their sentences.

Special attention was dedicated to the topic of employment, particularly, the employment of those pardoned and amnestied. “This must be unconditional and must be carried out unquestioningly. Aleksandr Lukashenko particularly underlined this and announced a big conversation on employment issues at the President’s level,” said Natalya Eismont.

The Head of State also stressed the importance of ensuring control over those persons who will be released as a result of the amnesty, as well as their tracking. “They will be released from prison under certain conditions, and there must be strict control over how these conditions will be observed. Otherwise, as the President said, the reaction will be immediate and harsh,” the Press Secretary said. “With all the mitigating approaches, with all the principles of justice on which we work, the President certainly puts the issue of security at the forefront.”