On the implementation of legislation and the work of state bodies in the sphere of countering extremism and terrorism

In the past year, no potential threats to national security arose in the Vitebsk region, and there were no terrorist incidents. However, isolated instances of extremism were detected and promptly suppressed.

State security and internal affairs bodies continuously monitored media publications in cooperation with the Vitebsk Regional Expert Commission for the Assessment of Information Products for the presence or absence of signs of extremism.

Five destructive information materials were identified on the Internet. Continuous monitoring of media publications was conducted, and websites containing information on the methods of manufacturing improvised explosive devices were blocked.

Upon applications from the KGB Directorate for the Vitebsk Region of the Republic of Belarus, the October District Court of Vitebsk declared two Internet information materials extremist. These materials aimed to incite national and religious hatred and contained calls for actions infringing upon the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Belarus. These materials have been included in the republican list of extremist materials, and access to them has been blocked.

In the past year, the KGB Directorate for the region issued official warnings to several residents about the inadmissibility of committing acts stipulated by Articles 130, 295, and 361-3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Two individuals were brought to administrative responsibility under Article 17.10 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus.

Employees of the 7th Directorate (for the Vitebsk Region) of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus suppressed the unlawful activities of five individuals from the cities of Vitebsk, Novopolotsk, and Polotsk. They were brought to criminal responsibility under Article 130 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus for inciting national and religious hatred.

Employees of this directorate also identified instances of public distribution of Nazi symbols, for which seven individuals were brought to administrative responsibility by the court.

The Regional Prosecutor sent to the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee

information with proposals for improving the work of executive authorities and law enforcement structures to ensure protection against extremist manifestations, both for critical infrastructure and other places of daily mass gathering of citizens.

By the order of the regional prosecutor's office, prosecutors of Vitebsk, Novopolotsk, Gorodok, Orsha and Polotsk districts, together with internal affairs and state security bodies, conducted a check of the security against potential manifestations of extremism and terrorism of critical infrastructure, based on the results of which relevant information was sent to the Vitebsk Regional Commission for Combating Extremism and Terrorism for use in accordance with the powers of this commission. The prosecutors of Vitebsk and Polotsk filed submissions for the elimination of identified violations.

The internal affairs and state security bodies of the region carried out constant operational-search work to prevent manifestations of extremism and other offenses that pose a threat to the state security of the country, in particular, to counter the illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition, and illegal migration.

Preventive measures based on the results of operational-search activities and other work were taken by the state security and internal affairs bodies in the necessary volumes and in a timely manner, which made it possible to suppress or prevent offenses and crimes.

Over 150 permits for the right to possess civilian weapons were revoked from citizens for negative reasons, more than 240 unregistered weapons and over 440 registered weapons were seized, as well as over 28 thousand rounds of ammunition. More than 150 criminal cases were initiated for illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.

By sapper-pyrotechnic units of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, based on information from internal affairs and state security bodies, ammunition from the Great Patriotic War period was systematically discovered and destroyed in the region.

In order to counter illegal migration,observance of the rules of stay of foreign citizens in the region by internal affairs bodies in cooperation with other state bodies, including state security bodies and the border service, a set of relevant measures was carried out.

  For violation of the ban on entry into the Republic of Belarus, criminal cases were initiated against 49 foreigners under Art. 371-2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, more than 2000 foreigners who violated the migration legislation of the Republic of Belarus or are illegally staying in the country have been brought to administrative responsibility.

In addition, territorial internal affairs bodies carried out significant work to prevent the entry of foreigners from countries with unfavorable migration situations, whose goal is to use our country for illegal entry into European Union countries.

Together with interested departments and services, measures were taken to comprehensively protect the interests of the Republic of Belarus during the simplified procedure for small border traffic.

During the public-political, cultural, entertainment, sports and other mass events held in 2017, no public order violations or manifestations of extremism were registered, and proper law and order were ensured. Special attention was paid to preventive work with football and hockey fans ("fans").

Overall, the socio-economic and socio-political situation in the region was stable.

The KGB Directorate for the region, together with the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, identified the destructive Internet group "Blue Whale" on the social network "VKontakte," which promoted suicidal ideas among youth. Appropriate preventive measures were taken in conjunction with the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

The implementation of video surveillance systems contributed to ensuring security during mass events and in other cases. The measures taken to create a video surveillance system have increased the effectiveness of operational-investigative and preventive activities.

events. Using the video surveillance system, law enforcement agencies of the region solved 202 crimes in 2017.

The internal affairs and state security bodies took measures to identify persons who made false anonymous calls about the "mining" of facilities. In the past year, 4 people were brought to criminal responsibility under Article 340 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. At the same time, extremist motives for their commission were not established in the perpetrators during the investigation and judicial review of cases in this category.

Employees of the state security and internal affairs bodies identified and brought to criminal responsibility under Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus two residents of the Vitebsk region who participated in the military conflict in Ukraine on the side of the armed forces of the "DPR".

No emergency situations posing a danger to the population were recorded in the past year.

Overall, law enforcement and other state bodies in the region are carrying out proper organizational, practical, and preventive measures aimed at preventing manifestations of extremism and terrorism, as a result of which none have occurred in the region.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor
of the Vitebsk Region for Supervision
of Legislation Enforcement
on State Security Vladimir Belous.