On the referral of citizens to medical and labor dispensaries

February 21, 2025

To date, the problem of alcoholism is quite significant and relevant for our state. Excessive alcohol consumption leads not only to personality deformation but also pushes people to commit rash acts, and serves as causes and conditions conducive to committing offenses and crimes.

Due to legal ignorance, citizens do not always realize the consequences that may result from the drawing up of an administrative report and bringing to administrative responsibility for committing an administrative offense while in a state of alcoholic intoxication.

In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the procedure and conditions for sending citizens to therapeutic and labor dispensaries and the conditions of their stay in them" dated 04.01.2010 No. 104-Z (hereinafter referred to as the Law), a therapeutic and labor dispensary is an organization that is part of the internal affairs bodies of the Republic of Belarus, created for the compulsory isolation and medical and social rehabilitation with mandatory labor engagement of certain categories of citizens. Medical and social rehabilitation implies restrictive measures aimed at overcoming citizens' alcohol, drug, or toxic dependence and at forming their readiness for adaptation in society.

Since 01.26.2024, new provisions of the Law have come into force, including a simplified procedure for referring citizens to a therapeutic and labor dispensary.

According to the Law, citizens who have been brought to administrative responsibility for committing administrative offenses while intoxicated twice or more within a year, have been warned in accordance with the Law about the possibility of being sent to a therapeutic and labor prophylactic institution (TLPI), and within a year after such a warning have committed an administrative offense while intoxicated for which they have been brought to administrative responsibility, and who, based on the results of a medical examination, have been diagnosed with chronic alcoholism, may be sent to such institutions. A citizen may be sent by the court to a therapeutic and labor prophylactic institution for a period of twelve months. A citizen sent to a therapeutic and labor prophylactic institution for the third time or more may be sent by the court to a therapeutic and labor prophylactic institution for a period of twenty-four months.

With the participation of the prosecutor in an open court hearing, which took place on the premises of the Korobovsky rural executive committee, the court of the Gluboksky district considered a civil case on sending a person to a therapeutic and labor prophylactic institution (hereinafter referred to as TLPI).

During the proceedings, it was established that a 33-year-old local resident had been abusing alcoholic beverages for a long time and was not officially employed. While intoxicated, the woman caused scandals with her neighbors, for which she was repeatedly brought to administrative responsibility within a year.

After an official warning about the possibility of being sent to a TLPI, she was again brought to administrative responsibility for similar actions. There are no diseases that would prevent her from being sent to the institution. According to the medical conclusion, the woman was diagnosed with chronic alcoholism.

Having heard the interested parties and examined the materials of the civil case, the court, taking into account the prosecutor's opinion, decided to send the woman for compulsory isolation and medical and social rehabilitation with mandatory labor engagement in the conditions of a TLPI for a period of 12 months.

The court's decision has not yet entered into legal force and may be appealed and protested in appellate order.



Senior Assistant Prosecutor

Gluboksky District Alexandra Yankina