In the national interest

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has hosted a meeting to discuss amendments to the legislation on citizenship and amnesty

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the topic of citizenship remains in the focus in Belarus for two important reasons. “On the one hand, we have to take care of the security of our state. On the other hand, decent and hardworking citizens are the most important asset of our country. Those who sincerely want to become citizens of our country and to contribute to its development are always welcome on Belarusian land,” explained the President.

 

Over the past five years, about 14,000 people have received Belarusian citizenship on various grounds. At the same time, each citizenship application is closely studied, the Head of State emphasised. Issues requiring a decision by the President are preliminarily considered by a special commission.
Citizenship applications are filed by people from all kinds of states, primarily from the post-Soviet space, as well as by people from Asia, Europe and even America.
“Last August, I asked to speed up the process of granting citizenships to Ukrainians. It was done for obvious reasons. In general, these are our people. They have made Belarus their home — they observe the laws, raise children, have jobs here, work well in agriculture, education, medicine and even science. Belarusian passports have already been issued to about 5,000 Ukrainians within a year,” noted Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The issues of granting citizenship should be approached in a balanced and accurate manner, necessarily taking into account national interests, the Head of State emphasised.
“I constantly demand updates from respective authorities. I am aware of the concern of some people about this matter. Some of our citizens believe that it is necessary to be more meticulous about granting citizenship and, in general, about admitting citizens of Ukraine to Belarus. I want to tell these people not to worry. We are in control of the situation. Every person who comes here just to have a meal and then goes back, or comes to stay here, or goes in transit through Belarus — everyone is under scrutiny,” said the President.
Aleksandr Lukashenko added that it is necessary to look again at those who, having gone abroad, act to the detriment of the state and people, committing crimes within the framework of the prepared bill. 
“We know every one of them. We know them. Do these people deserve to remain the citizens of Belarus if they fled from their native country and severed ties with it? In fact, many MPs and representatives of the public suggested stripping people of their citizenship if they fled and are harming the country, if their actions constitute a crime. This is what we are talking about now,” explained the President.
According to him, it is also necessary to discuss how to treat Belarusian nationals who have received the Pole’s Card and other similar documents. “We need to figure out whether they are citizens of Belarus who are simply confused as they applied for this card allegedly by mistake, or they have a different allegiance. I think the law enforcement agencies and the diplomatic service can mention other issues in the field of citizenship that cause concern.”


According to Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Kubrakov, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has drafted a bill on amending the citizenship law in collaboration with other agencies. The bill suggests amendments and additions to a number of provisions of the citizenship law to ensure the internal security of the state, the stability of the socio-political system, to update the document taking into account the enforcement practices.


Deputy Head of Belarus President Administration Olga Chupris, 
The second important topic of the meeting was amnesty. The last time it was held in Belarus in May 2020.
“At present our country is under unprecedented pressure from the West. But even in such conditions, the Belarusian society remains consolidated and united. That is why ahead of the Day of People’s Unity (marked on September 17th) there is a proposal to discuss the expediency of granting amnesty. We have always taken this symbolic step for us, for our people on the most important dates for the country. It is an important moment in life for those who are released from prison. They adapt to society in different ways, but nevertheless such practice exists,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. 
According to the President, there are absolutely different people among those convicted, including those who committed crimes of negligence, as well as minor crimes, including acts of protest.
“Everyone, especially those in prison, have grown wiser over the past two years. We will hear a report from the Internal Affairs Ministry who is personally responsible for those who will be amnestied. They will monitor those people after their release. If they repented, took the path of correction and completely cleared their guilt, leniency can be shown to them,” added the Head of State.
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko deems it necessary to consider the final version of the document at a special commission with the participation of ‘reasonable opposition’. 
“We need to invite people who may have a different point of view on the development of our society. They are not enemies. Let them express their opinion,” explained the Belarusian leader. The President said that he voiced such a proposal ‘due to the concerns of many citizens of the country’, “People have not yet recovered from the year 2020. There are sometimes extremities from our supporters, too. You know, this has never added to the unity of society. Nevertheless, we cannot just ignore this issue and do not hear these people.”
In addition, the Head of State stressed that he would have to sign the Law on amnesty after the adoption by the Parliament, “So keep in mind that everything I said has to be consistent. 
We cannot let everybody go left and right. Who should be in prison, should serve their time. But again, there are people who can be released early. A pardon is possible only for those who really deserve it. Justice must be at the core. Bandits and extremists cannot make part of this group. I am talking about those who tried to derail trains, commit acts of terrorism and kill our citizens.”

FACT
In a legal sense, an amnesty is a normative legal act that, without repealing the criminal law, exempts from criminal liability, completely or partially exempts from punishment (both primary and additional), or replaces it with a milder punishment, or removes a criminal record.
The amnesty bill is adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and signed by the President. Since 1991, 16 amnesty laws have been issued throughout the country.
Each act of amnesty establishes a certain circle of persons in respect of which it is subject to application, as well as a circle of persons to whom it does not apply. The amnesty law is subject to execution within six months from the date of its entry into force.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
Photo by belta