Implementation of the amnesty law

Over a six-month period, authorized bodies have implemented the main measures for the application of the Law of the Republic of Belarus of May 18, 2020 No. 17-Z "On Amnesty in connection with the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" (hereinafter referred to as the Law), which provides for exemption from criminal liability and imposed punishment with subsequent assistance to persons released from places of deprivation of liberty.

The execution of the Law was carried out with the participation of the prosecutor's office by designated bodies and institutions in cooperation with local executive and administrative bodies, labor, employment and social protection units, and other organizations.

The decision on the presence or absence of grounds for applying amnesty was made in respect of each person individually based on the results of clarifying circumstances that are significant, based on the criteria established by the Law for determining persons subject to amnesty, the conditions for its application, and factors that prevent amnesty.

In the absence of obstacles, full exemption from punishment and other criminal liability measures applied, in particular, to minors, pregnant women, women and single men with children under eighteen years of age, persons who have reached the generally established retirement age, persons with disabilities of group I or II, citizens affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

A number of circumstances hindered the application of amnesty: the commission of certain crimes; violations of the established procedure for serving sentences; non-reimbursement of damage caused by the crime, alimony arrears, expenses for the maintenance of children under state care.

During the execution of the Law in the Vitebsk region, within the framework of preliminary investigation of criminal cases, when issuing court decisions, as well as by bodies and institutions entrusted with the execution of punishments and other criminal liability measures, amnesty

applied to 2.3 thousand people. To comply with the conditions for the application of amnesty by convicted persons, compensation for harm (damage) caused by the crime was paid, and income obtained by criminal means was paid, totaling over 700 thousand rubles.

About 300 amnestied persons were released from the institutions of the penal system and arrived for further residence in the region, who were assisted in resolving issues of domestic and employment.

The Prosecutor's Office of the region implemented a set of measures aimed at ensuring supervision over compliance with the legislation in the execution of the provisions of the Law.

Head of the Department of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office
for supervision over compliance with legislation
by bodies of the penal system
and enforcement
Vasily Pashkovsky