MOGILEV, 16 October (BelTA) – Experts discussed the reform of the Constitution and the development of the political party system in the course of a dialogue platform in A.A. Kuleshov State University of Mogilev. The meeting gathered over 20 specialists from various spheres of activities, BelTA has learned.
The university's Rector Denis Duk noted: “It is not the first time we've gathered here today but it is the first time the meeting's format has been expanded. Over 20 experts have been chosen to discuss various aspects of the constitutional development. Those are representatives of the justice system, the court system, and the prosecution service, scientists from our university and other higher educational establishments of Mogilev Oblast. Today we reviewed the matters that had already been discussed. Apart from that, we've discussed the proposals members of the expert group had received in the course of their work.”
Head of the Central Justice Office of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee Aleksandr Maimusov suggested introducing a capital punishment moratorium in Belarus. He noted: “We are the only country in the Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe that uses capital punishment. Statistics of the last ten years indicates that 2 to 9 people in Belarus are sentenced to death every year. We suggest acceding to the protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The decision will demonstrate a humane attitude to citizens and will enhance our country's image before other nations.”
Candidate of Politics, Associate Professor, Dean of the Economics and Law Department of A.A. Kuleshov State University of Mogilev Dmitry Rogovtsov noted that Mogilev Oblast residents had submitted various proposals to the experts. Since early October 2020 an open platform has been available for representatives of the general public in Mogilev Oblast to submit proposals concerning reforms of the constitutional system, the government policy, the redistribution of functions and powers between various government agencies, the reform of the election system, the status and role of local self-government bodies. The residents showed a strong interest in the introduction of ombudsmen and a moratorium on capital punishment. Proposals were submitted on ways to improve the operation of oversight agencies. It should help liberalize business operations and empower entrepreneurship activities of citizens in Mogilev Oblast and the country as a whole.
According to Dmitry Rogovtsov, he has also submitted a proposal on transforming the election system in the course of elections to municipal councils of deputies. “Mixed-member proportional representation can be used as an alternative. These matters will be discussed at the oblast level later on in order to determine what proposals should be forwarded to the national level. I hope our constructive proposals will enjoy support and will be implemented into the future draft of the Constitution that will guarantee the existence of a sovereign and independent Belarusian state,” he stressed.
