Continuing the "arms theme"
February 5, 2020
Legislation provides for administrative and criminal liability for illegal actions with weapons. Despite this, some citizens, known as "black diggers," during illegal excavations in combat zones and military training grounds, pose a threat primarily to themselves, their family members, and others. They search for weapons, ammunition, and explosive devices, illegally storing them at their place of residence, whether found in the forest or other combat zones. Seemingly "harmless" ammunition or its parts are found, and sometimes unregistered weapons are discovered.
Thus, on January 16, 2020, in the Baranovichi district, 3 people were injured after the explosion of a long-stored fragmentation warhead of a multiple rocket launcher, found near a military training ground. Additionally, 2 shells from the Great Patriotic War were discovered in the yard of one of the victims.
To prevent and suppress the illegal trafficking of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices, preventive measures are being carried out by employees of the Glubokoe District Department of Internal Affairs throughout the Glubokoe district until March 30, 2020. These measures are aimed at preventing offenses and crimes related to the trafficking of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices.
Administrative liability for offenses related to arms trafficking is provided for by articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus:
- 23.46. Illegal actions concerning gas, pneumatic, or throwing weapons.
Illegal carrying or transportation of gas, pneumatic, or throwing weapons -
entails a fine of eight to ten basic units, with or without confiscation of the object of the administrative offense.
Note. A person who voluntarily surrenders the items specified in this article and Articles 23.47 and 23.71 of this
of the Code, shall be exempt from administrative liability for acts provided for by these articles.- 23.47. Illegal actions concerning cold weapons.
Illegal carrying or transportation of cold weapons -
shall entail a fine of from two to six basic units with or without confiscation of the object of the administrative offense.
- 23.48. Violation of the rules for handling firearms, explosive, flammable, corrosive substances or pyrotechnic products.
1. Violation of the rules for accounting, storage, use, transportation or shipment of firearms, ammunition, explosive, flammable, corrosive substances or pyrotechnic products -
shall entail a warning or a fine of up to ten basic units.
2. The same act, committed repeatedly within one year after the imposition of an administrative penalty for such a violation -
shall entail a fine of from ten to twenty basic units with or without confiscation of the object of the administrative offense, or deprivation of a special right with confiscation of the object of the administrative offense or without confiscation.
- 23.49. Violation of the registration deadlines for firearms, gas, pneumatic or smoothbore weapons, renewal deadlines for permits for their storage and carrying, or rules for their registration.
Violation of the established deadlines for the registration of firearms, gas, pneumatic or smoothbore weapons, as well as the established deadlines for the renewal of permits for their storage and carrying, or the rules for their registration upon change of residence -
shall entail a fine of from four to fifteen basic units.
- 23.50. Evasion of the sale of firearms or ammunition.
Evasion of the sale of firearms or ammunition, committed by a person whose permit for their storage has been revoked -
shall entail a fine of from two to four basic units.
- 23.51. Installation of a silencer or a night vision sight (sight system) on civilian or service weapons.
Installation of a silencer or a night vision sight (sight system) on civilian or service weapons (except for hunting sights), the procedure
whose use is established by law, -shall incur a fine of from twenty to twenty-five base units with confiscation of a device for silenced shooting or a night vision sight (sighting system).
- 23.71. Illegal actions concerning smoothbore hunting firearms.
Illegal acquisition, transfer to possession, storage, transportation, mailing or carrying of smoothbore hunting firearms or ammunition therefor, or illegal acquisition, transfer to possession, transportation, mailing or carrying of components or parts of smoothbore hunting firearms -
shall incur a fine of from ten to thirty base units with or without confiscation of the subject of the administrative offense, or deprivation of a special right with or without confiscation of the subject of the administrative offense.
Criminal liability for illegal actions in the sphere of circulation of weapons, ammunition and explosives is provided for by Articles 294 - 297 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.
The sanction of Article 295 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus "Illegal actions concerning firearms, ammunition and explosives" provides for punishment in the form of restriction of liberty for a term of up to five years or imprisonment for a term of two to ten years with or without confiscation of property. However, the note to Article 295 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus states that a person who voluntarily surrenders the items specified in Articles 295-297 of the Criminal Code shall be exempted from criminal liability for actions provided for by the said articles, except for cases of sale.
Citizens who possess information about persons illegally storing weapons, engaged in the search for weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, and other illegal activities related to the circulation of weapons can provide information to the "hotline" of the Glubokoye District Department of Internal Affairs by phone: 22702, 58121, 50872 mob. +375295972174 (MTS), +37529314-89-02 (A1). Anonymity is guaranteed.
Qualified consultation can be obtained by phone: 58121, +375298122564 (MTS) (senior inspector for licensing work of the public security police law enforcement and prevention department of the Glubokoye District Department of Internal Affairs), 5-08-72 (public security police law enforcement and prevention department of the Glubokoye District Department of Internal Affairs).
Senior Inspector for Permitting Activities
Department of Law Enforcement and Prevention
Public Security Police
Glubokoe District Department of Internal Affairs, Sergey Tsyrban