Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova has held a meeting of an expert council, BelTA has learned.

The experts discussed the bill “On amending the codes on criminal liability” that is designed to introduce changes to the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Criminal Executive Code, as well as the Code on Administrative Offenses and the Procedural Executive Code of Administrative Offenses. The bill seeks to individualize criminal liability, enhance the humanistic aspect of the criminal law, and ensure the balance of its norms.

“The bill was widely discussed with labor collectives and the public on the instructions of the president of our country. Today we are to review it and offer an expert opinion,” noted Natalya Kochanova.

In September, the bill passed the first reading at the House of Representatives, underwent extensive public debate and is now being prepared for the second reading. The bill is aimed at balancing the norms of criminal law.

The bill suggests introducing a more lenient punishment for a number of crimes, including economic ones, not imprisoning women and single men raising children under 14 years of age, as well as minors and disabled people, provided they are first-time offenders and these are not crimes against life and health or extremist crimes.

A wide range of experts took part in the debate.

Source