When a threat is a crime

In everyday life, during conflicts, people often use phrases that, by their content, pose a threat to the legal rights and interests of others.

As a rule, such statements are expressed in the form of insults or threats, while there is no intention to carry out the threats made. However, not everyone is aware that under certain circumstances, uttered threats can be considered a crime.

Thus, in accordance with Article 186 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, criminal liability is provided for the threat of murder, causing grievous bodily harm, or destruction of property by generally dangerous means, if there were grounds to fear its execution. The sanction of the article provides for a maximum punishment of imprisonment for up to
3 years.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Verkhnedvinsk District supported the state prosecution in the district court in a criminal case charging A. with committing a crime provided for by Article 186 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus – a threat of murder, if there were grounds to fear its execution.

During the court investigation, it was established that on one of the days in March 2024, in the evening, while in a state of alcoholic intoxication, at his place of residence, during an argument with his wife, A. intentionally grabbed and squeezed her neck, uttering a threat of murder, attempting to instill fear in the victim for her life and health, thereby committing actions that the victim perceived as a real threat of murder and in the given situation had grounds to fear its execution.

In court, A. fully admitted his guilt in the crime imputed to him, provided for by Article 186 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. It was also established that the accused abuses alcoholic beverages and has previously been held criminally and administratively liable. In conjunction with the expert conclusions, protocols of operational-search activities, investigative actions, and other written materials of the case, thoroughly examined during the court investigation, A.'s guilt
in committing the crime provided for by Article 186 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus is proven in full.

Taking into account the position of the state prosecution, the court found A. guilty of committing a crime under Article 186 of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to correctional labor for a term of one year with the retention of 15 percent of his earnings, but not less than one base unit, monthly into state revenue. The sentence has entered into legal force.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor

of Verkhnedvinsk District

3rd Class Lawyer

Kuzmichyonok A.V.