MINSK, 11 January (BelTA) – After Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko hosted a government conference to discuss the improvement of legislation on criminal prosecution the president’s Press Secretary Natalya Eismont talked to reporters about the key highlights of the meeting, BelTA has learned.
Natalya Eismont reminded that two topics of importance for the general public had been discussed: the organization of an amnesty and the improvement of criminal prosecution for individual kinds of crime, in particular, misdemeanors. Internal Affairs Minister Ivan Kubrakov and Chairman of the Supreme Court Valentin Sukalo presented their reports. “The head of state backed the approaches of the speakers to the main discussion items,” Natalya Eismont said.
In her words, the discussion lasted for about two hours and focused on the two most important principles, which observance had been repeatedly emphasized by the head of state. “An individualized approach and the principle of justice. The president laid emphasis on them for the duration of the meeting,” the press secretary noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention of government officials to individual aspects. “For instance, the president talked about the work of the pardon commission under the president of the Republic of Belarus. The president wants the commission to constantly improve its work and to come forward with suggestions,” Natalya Eismont noted. There is no doubt that the principle of justice and the individualized approach should be at the heart of the commission’s proposals, which are forwarded to the head of state.
The conference also touched upon the work of law enforcement agencies and their individual units – juvenile affairs inspectorates and the Department of Corrections.
“Matters concerning crimes related to drug abuse were also discussed. The role of commissions on juvenile affairs is understandable in this regard. And it is also understandable that the president expects these commissions to step up their work. The relevant signal was sent today,” the press secretary added.
Meanwhile, the work of law enforcement agencies must be based on the principle of justice. Any manifestations of the practices based on so-called departmental quotas are absolutely unacceptable. “The president had repeatedly talked about it before. He repeated it today. In particular, for the internal affairs minister,” Natalya Eismont added. The work of correctional institutions and the Department of Corrections was reviewed during the conference in view of the forthcoming amnesty and pardons. The president believes it is necessary to enhance the role of correctional institutions, take into account their opinion while making decisions on amnesty or granting a pardon because these institutions know their inmates better.
Employment was another matter under review. In particular, the employment of those, who have been pardoned and amnestied. “It should be taken care of without question. The president emphasized it and announced a major conversation about employment matters at the top level, the level of the president,” Natalya Eismont said.
The head of state also underlined the importance of keeping an eye on the people, who will be released due to the amnesty, and of keeping records of them. “They will be released from correctional facilities on certain terms. And control over how they abide by these terms must be ferocious. Otherwise, the reaction will be immediate and harsh, as the president put it,” the press secretary said. “Despite all the mitigating approaches, all the principles of justice that we rely on the president prioritizes the matter of security over everything else.”
