MINSK, 2 April (BelTA) – The bill on amending anti-extremism laws passed the first reading at the fifth session of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the seventh convocation on 2 April, BelTA has learned.
The bill was submitted to the House of Representatives by the Council of Ministers. It proposes to establish a special time period for accelerated handling of civil trials in relation to organizations with manifestations of extremism, as well as the recognition of symbols and paraphernalia, information products as extremist materials. The bill also formalizes the terms ‘extremist symbols and paraphernalia', ‘extremist group', and expands the notion of ‘extremism' and ‘extremist materials'. The bill suggests assigning the coordinating function to the internal affairs bodies, expanding the list of government agencies in charge of countering extremism, and establishing the procedure for banning extremist groups.
Presenting the bill, Prosecutor General Andrei Shved noted that the document sets forth a legal and organizational basis for countering extremism in order to ensure the security of society and the state.
“The concept of ‘extremism' has been expanded to include illegal actions that encroach on independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty, the foundations of the constitutional order, and public security. A new definition of ‘extremist materials' has been given. This notion will include not only information products, but also symbols and paraphernalia intended for extremist activities and propaganda of extremism. The police and the state security agency have been empowered to identify extremist groups and prohibit their activities. The powers of the prosecutor's office have been expanded. Prosecutors of the regions and the city of Minsk, along with the prosecutor general, will be authorized to suspend the activities of organizations, file lawsuits to recognize organizations as extremist groups, prohibit their activities and liquidate them,” the prosecutor general stressed.
The bill will introduce responsibility for participation in an extremist group, financing of extremist activities, recruitment and participation in such activities. “At present, criminal responsibility extends only to establishing and running an extremist group. The bill proposes to introduce responsibility for the dissemination of deliberately false information about the political, economic, social, military and international situation in Belarus, the legal status of citizens, the activities of state authorities and administration in public speeches, including in the media and the Internet. It also provides for criminal liability for calls to violate the territorial integrity of our country, for the dissemination of prohibited information by the owners of Internet resources that are not mass media,” he added.
