Individual Approach and Fairness. Key Highlights of Lukashenko's Meeting on Amnesty and Criminal Legislation

Presidential Press Secretary of Belarus Natalya Eismont, following a meeting with the Head of State on improving legislation on criminal liability, told reporters about the main accents of the event, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

Natalya Eismont recalled that two socially resonant topics were considered - the holding of an amnesty and the improvement of criminal liability measures for certain types of crimes, in particular, less serious ones. Reports were heard from the Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Kubrakov and the Chairman of the Supreme Court Valentin Sukalo. "The Head of State supported the rapporteurs' approaches on the main topics discussed today," said Natalya Eismont.

According to her, the discussion, which lasted about two hours, was focused on two key principles, the observance of which the Head of State has repeatedly emphasized. "Individual approach and the principle of justice - this is what the President emphasized throughout the meeting," the press secretary stressed.

Alexander Lukashenko drew the special attention of responsible persons to certain points. "For example, the President spoke about the work of the Commission on Pardons under the President of the Republic of Belarus. Here are the President's principles and requirements: the commission's work must be constantly improved, the President expects proposals from the commission," Natalya Eismont noted. And, undoubtedly, the proposals of the commission, submitted to the Head of State, must be based on the principle of justice and an individual approach.

During the meeting, the work of law enforcement agencies and their individual structural units - juvenile inspection commissions and the Department of Execution of Punishments - was also touched upon.

"Issues related to drug-related offenses were discussed separately. Here, the role of juvenile commissions is clear, and it is understood that the President expects an intensification of the work of these commissions. Such a signal was given today," the press secretary added.

At the same time, the work of law enforcement officers must necessarily be based on the principle of justice. And any manifestations of the so-called "stick-and-carrot" system are absolutely unacceptable. "The President has spoken about this more than once before, and today he reiterated it to the Minister of Internal Affairs, in particular," Natalya Eismont noted.

The work of correctional institutions and the Department of Corrections was discussed at a meeting in connection with the upcoming amnesty and pardons. The President sees the need to strengthen the role of correctional institutions, to take their opinions into account when making decisions on amnesty or pardons, as it is they who know about the behavior of those serving sentences. A separate topic is employment, and especially the employment of pardoned and amnestied individuals. "This must be unconditional and must be carried out without question. The President emphasized this and announced a major high-level discussion on employment issues, at the presidential level," said Natalya Eismont. The Head of State also stressed the importance of ensuring control over persons who will be released as a result of the amnesty, as well as their registration. "They will be released from places of detention under certain conditions. And control over how these conditions are observed must be ironclad. Otherwise, as the President said, the reaction will be instant and harsh," said the press secretary. "With all the mitigating approaches, with all the principles of justice on which we work, the President undoubtedly places the issue of security at the forefront."

Source: belta.by