Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus

January 29, 2021

As of October 27, 2019, amendments and additions to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as the CC) entered into force by the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated July 18, 2019.

Thus, in parts 2 and 3 of Article 328 (Illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors and analogues), the minimum threshold of sanctions has been reduced.

If before the entry into force of these amendments, the sanction of part 2 of Article 328 of the CC provided for imprisonment for a term of five to eight years with or without a fine, then now it is imprisonment for a term of three to eight years with or without a fine.

The sanction of part 3 of Article 328 of the CC previously provided for imprisonment for a term of eight to fifteen years with or without a fine, but after the amendments entered into force, it is imprisonment for a term of six to fifteen years with or without a fine.

 

Also, this law has supplemented the CC with new articles.

Article 331-1. Incitement of an athlete to use a substance and (or) method included in the Republican List of Prohibited Substances and Methods in Sports.

1. Incitement of an athlete to use a substance and (or) method included in the Republican List of Prohibited Substances and Methods in Sports by a coach, pedagogical worker, manager, sports agent, medical worker, or other person involved in the sports training of this or another athlete, in the absence of signs of a crime provided for by Article 331 of this Code, shall be punishable by a fine or restriction of liberty for up to one year.

2. The same act committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, or against a knowingly underage athlete, or against two or more athletes, or by means of blackmail, violence or threat of its application, shall be punishable by a fine, or restriction of liberty for up to two years, or imprisonment for up to one year.

3. Acts provided for in parts 1 or 2 of this article, which negligently resulted in the death of the athlete or caused him grievous bodily harm, shall be punishable by restriction of liberty for up to five years or imprisonment for up to seven years.

Article 331-2. Intentional use of a substance and (or) method included in the Republican List of Prohibited Substances and Methods in Sports against an athlete

1. Intentional use against an athlete, regardless of their consent, of a substance and (or) method included in the Republican List of Prohibited Substances and Methods in Sports, except for the use of such substance and (or) method for medical purposes with a permit for their therapeutic use, in the absence of signs of crimes provided for by Articles 328 and 333 of this Code, shall be punishable by a fine, or by restriction of liberty for up to two years, or by imprisonment for up to one year.

2. The same act committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, or against a knowingly underage athlete, or against two or more athletes, shall be punishable by a fine, or by restriction of liberty for up to three years, or by imprisonment for up to two years.

3. Acts provided for in parts 1 or 2 of this Article, which negligently resulted in the death of the athlete or caused them grievous bodily harm, shall be punishable by restriction of liberty for up to five years or by imprisonment for up to seven years.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor

Gluboksky District Alexandra Yankina