Public security in the sphere of countering extremism
The Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office constantly analyzes the enforcement of legislation on countering extremism, illegal migration, and combating terrorism.
The analysis of the situation in the first half of 2021 showed the following.
As part of the implementation of the Complex of Measures for the Prevention of Violations Identified during the Control (Supervision) of Public Security, preventive and operational-search activities are carried out aimed at countering the illegal production and trafficking of weapons, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices, as well as dual-use products. Work is organized in places of temporary and permanent residence and registration of foreign citizens, with the aim of identifying persons illegally staying in the Republic of Belarus, harboring criminal intentions to commit acts of terrorism, as well as arriving from regions with increased terrorist activity.
In close cooperation with the territorial state security bodies, control is ensured over the situation among radically minded activists of politicized and informal youth associations.
The global Internet is constantly monitored to identify individuals visiting websites with information on how to make improvised explosive devices, information supporting radical Muslim and other movements; about individuals expressing intentions to commit terrorist acts or other crimes in a generally dangerous manner.
In order to prevent incidents of racism and other forms of discrimination, separate work is carried out regarding informal youth groups, especially the so-called "football fans".
The Internet is systematically monitored to obtain information about unauthorized actions, calls to participate in them, identify individuals calling for illegal actions, and identify radical movements. Preventive measures are carried out against individuals registering in social
networks in groups with signs of extremist orientation.Also, law enforcement agencies of the region monitor the situation among radically minded activists of politicized structures and informal youth associations.
On a permanent basis, prevention entities inform the public on issues of observing safety rules in places with mass gatherings of citizens, on the need to show vigilance and inform internal affairs bodies about the discovery of unattended or suspicious items or persons. Information of a preventive nature is posted on information boards of retail outlets, educational institutions, entertainment venues, transport enterprises, in other organizations and public places, and is also broadcast over public address systems and on electronic displays.
During the analyzed period, in the Vitebsk region, internal affairs and state security bodies of the Vitebsk region implemented a set of operational-search and other measures to withdraw weapons, ammunition, and explosives from illegal circulation.
For reference: 242 units of firearms (including 114 unregistered) were withdrawn from illegal circulation. Also, 5158 rounds of ammunition were seized. As a result of preventive measures, 272 units of firearms (including 47 unregistered) and 881 rounds of ammunition were voluntarily surrendered by the population.
Internal affairs bodies of the region identified 56 administrative offenses related to the circulation of weapons and ammunition.
In general, subjects of counteraction to extremism have established monitoring of the socio-political situation in the region. General efforts are aimed at obtaining information about facts of preparation of terrorist and other extremist manifestations, and timely suppression of activities of persons planning, preparing, or committing actions aimed at destabilizing the situation in the republic.
Internal affairs bodies of the region ensure control over the compliance by foreign citizens and stateless persons (hereinafter referred to as foreigners) with the rules of stay in
Republic of Belarus. In cooperation with other prevention entities, measures are being taken to identify and suppress channels of illegal migration, raids are conducted to check probable places of illegal residence of foreigners, railway stations and bus stations, markets, hotels and private households are being processed.During the analyzed period, individuals were brought to administrative responsibility under Article 24.35 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus.
In order to control the stay of foreign students, prevent them from committing and being subjected to offenses, employees of the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Public Security Department of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, as well as territorial departments of the Internal Affairs Bodies for Citizenship and Migration, have established close cooperation with the administrations of educational institutions, and checks of dormitories and addresses where foreign students reside are regularly conducted.
To stabilize the migration situation, as well as to counter extremism and combat terrorism in the adjacent territories of the Republic of Belarus with the Russian Federation, in 2021, relevant regime measures were organized and carried out in the border areas of the Vitebsk region and the Smolensk region, aimed at identifying and detaining illegal migrants and establishing channels of illegal migration.
As part of these measures, settlements and road routes of the Belarusian-Russian section of the State Border, located near the border with the Smolensk region of the Russian Federation, were processed.
Overall, the activities of authorized entities to suppress violations of legislation in the sphere of illegal migration are carried out quite effectively and do not cause significant complaints.
Issues of enforcing legislation on countering extremism, illegal migration, and combating terrorism are under the constant control of the prosecutor's offices of the Vitebsk region.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor
of the Vitebsk region for supervision
over the enforcement of legislation
on state security
Alexey Lysakov