MINSK, 17 May (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed a law to amend the law on the state protection of judges, officials of law enforcement bodies and control (oversight) bodies, employees of state security agencies. The law had been passed by the Belarusian parliament and is registered in the national registry of legal acts, which means it has been signed by the head of state, BelTA has learned.
The amended law has expanded the number of people, who are granted state protection. The number now includes military personnel of the Belarusian army, other military units and forces if they are entrusted with protecting public order; personnel of the presidential security service and the Operations and Analysis Center under the President of Belarus; other people whose security is threatened; families of these people.
In other words, state protection can be applied to any person, who faces danger in the line of duty, including civil servants, judges, workers of mass media, members of election commissions, other persons as well as their families.
State protection can be used even if there is no immediate threat to the life, health, and property of the protected people. The law improves the procedure for applying certain state protection measures. For instance, the appearance of not only the protected person but their family members can be modified. State protection in the form of information confidentiality measures can be authorized if a person assumes office, is appointed to certain positions, or occupies certain positions.
The main provisions of the law will come into force one month after the official publication.
