MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) - The number of citizens held administratively liable by the courts has fallen by 40% over the past few years, BelTA learned from the press service of the Supreme Court of Belarus.
“If before 2021 this figure reached 300,000-350,000 people annually, then now, according to judicial statistics, it has decreased by approximately 40%. Today, about 200,000 people per year are held administratively liable,” the press service said.
This trend was made possible by large-scale changes introduced into the Administrative Offenses Code and the Administrative Procedure and Execution Code. The amendments came into force on 1 March 2021.
It is possible that the number of actual offenses committed by citizens has not dropped so dramatically. The reason for the decrease is largely legislative: many acts once considered punishable offenses are now treated as minor violations. For these, a warning is issued instead of a penalty.
One of the most common infractions in practice is the consumption of alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages, or beer in a public place, or appearing in a public place in a state of intoxication. This offense carries an administrative penalty of a fine of up to eight base amounts (one base amounts is Br42).
However, if a person committing such an offense for the first time admits their guilt, has not been held administratively liable or exempted from liability for the same offense within the past year, and agrees to be exempted from administrative liability, the body conducting the administrative process is obligated to release them from administrative liability by issuing a warning.
This is precisely the approach intended by the lawmakers - the priority of preventive measures over punishment. This means that a person who commits an administrative infraction for the first time will not receive an administrative penalty on the initial occasion. The offense will merely be registered in a database. However, a repeat offense within one year will lead to mandatory administrative liability.
Follow us on:
