Amnesty Law

On July 25, 2019, the Law of the Republic of Belarus of July 19, 2019 No. 230-Z "On Amnesty in Connection with the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Belarus from the Nazi Invaders" (hereinafter referred to as the Law) came into force, which is to be executed within nine months.

This Law establishes the criteria for identifying persons subject to amnesty and the conditions for its application.

The Law provides for the release, under certain conditions, from punishment and other measures of criminal liability, in particular, 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, persons suffering from active forms of tuberculosis and assigned to certain groups of dispensary observation, as well as persons suffering from oncological diseases of certain clinical groups, HIV-infected persons with certain stages of the disease, citizens affected by the Chernobyl disaster and other radiation accidents.

For a number of convicted persons, the issue of partial release from punishment will be considered.

However, the amnesty does not apply to persons who have committed murder, corruption offenses, have been brought to criminal responsibility for driving a vehicle while intoxicated, and other crimes, the list of which is set out in the Law.

The amnesty does not apply to persons who have committed crimes and have been recognized as obliged to compensate for the expenses incurred by the state for the maintenance of children under state care, and have not compensated for these expenses.

Persons who have been subject to amnesty during 2014-2019 and who have re-committed an intentional crime during the period of an unexpunged or uncancelled conviction, who have not fully compensated for the harm (damage) caused by the crimes, have not paid the income received from illegal entrepreneurial activity, are not subject to amnesty.

unjustly acquired benefit, other income obtained by criminal means, maliciously violating the established order during the serving of punishment or other measures of criminal liability.

The execution of the Law is entrusted to bodies and institutions that execute punishments, internal affairs bodies, criminal prosecution bodies, and courts.

The decision on the application or non-application of amnesty is made with respect to each person individually.

According to the provisions of the Law, local executive and administrative bodies ensure the organization of accounting for persons released from punishment under amnesty, and provide them with assistance in employment and social reintegration.

Head of Department
Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office
for Supervision of Compliance with Legislation
by Bodies of the Criminal Executive System
and Enforcement V. Pashkovsky