Amnesty with an individual approach

Four resolutions on the application of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Amnesty in connection with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders" were issued at the first meeting of the commission for considering cases of convicts falling under its effect, and sent for approval to the district prosecutor's office.

The meeting took place on August 20 at the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs. During the meeting, 10 cases of convicts serving sentences not involving deprivation of liberty were reviewed, 3 of which concerned minors. Four positive decisions were made preliminarily.

— The law was adopted with the aim of implementing the principle of humanism and in connection with a significant date in
the history of our country. It came into force on July 19 and is subject to execution within 9 months, — said Olga Dalinkevich, head of the criminal enforcement inspectorate of the District Department of Internal Affairs. — The document defines categories of persons subject to release from punishment, convicted of crimes that are not serious or especially serious: minors; pregnant women; women and single men with children under 18; persons who have reached the generally established retirement age; disabled persons of groups I and II; patients with oncological diseases and active forms of tuberculosis; HIV-infected persons; veterans of hostilities, victims of the Chernobyl disaster, as well as other categories of convicts. Provided that they committed the crime before the law came into force.

Amnesty does not apply to those who have already been amnestied in 2014-2019 or pardoned but committed an intentional crime again. It also does not apply to those who have not fully compensated for the damage (harm) caused by crimes, or have not paid the income obtained through criminal means. Exemption from criminal liability "does not shine" on those who maliciously violate the order of serving sentences, as well as those who committed crimes characterized by high public danger (murder, intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm, sexual offenses, banditry, corruption, violation of traffic rules while intoxicated, resulting in death or grievous bodily harm, crimes related to illegal drug trafficking, and a number of others).

Meetings of the commission for considering cases of convicts falling under the law will be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The decision on whether to apply amnesty is made individually for each person. It is yet to be made for 139 more people.

Veronika Filanovich, "Postavsky Krai" newspaper