Belarus
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- nominally a republic, in fact a dictatorship
- CONSTITUTION
- March 15, 1994; amended 1996, 2004
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on civil law; not subject to the jurisdiction of the ICJ
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, National Assembly (Natsionalnoye Sobranie) composed of the Council of the Republic (Soviet Respubliki) and the House of Representatives (Palata Predstaviteley)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court (composed of the president and vice president and organized into various specialized chambers, including economic and military; number of judges determined by the president of the republic and the president of the court); Constitutional Court (composed of 12 judges, including a president and a vice president); oblast courts; City Court of Minsk; city courts; Economic Courts of the city and oblast of Minsk
RELIGIONS
Orthodox 48.3%, Catholics 7.1%, others 3.5%, non-believers 41.1% (estimate 2011)
From the country
- NOVEMBER 25, 2024BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS OPPOSITION FEARS FOR FORMER UKRAINE VOLUNTEER EXTRADITED BY VIETNAM
Vietnam has extradited a prominent Belarusian opposition figure to Belarus where he faces a heavy prison sentence or possibly the death penalty, according to exiled opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko.
JULY 31, 2024BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO PARDONS GERMAN MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH ON TERRORISM CHARGES
Belarus’ authoritarian leader on July 30, 2024 granted a pardon to a German citizen who had been sentenced to death on terrorism charges.
- JULY 22, 2024BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: GERMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 'MERCENARY ACTIVITY'
The German Foreign Ministry confirmed on July 19, 2024 that a German national has been sentenced to death in Belarus and said Berlin was in intensive contact with authorities in Minsk over his fate.
OCTOBER 22, 2023BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE MURDER OF HIS THREE-YEAR-OLD SON
The Minsk regional Court in Belarus on October 19, 2023 reportedly sentenced to death Alexander Taratuta, 48, for the murder of his three-year-old son Semyon
- MARCH 13, 2023BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS APPROVES DEATH PENALTY FOR OFFICIALS CONVICTED OF HIGH TREASON
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a law on 9 March 2023 allowing for the use of the death penalty against officials and army servicemen convicted of high treason, his office said.
FEBRUARY 22, 2023BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: LAWMAKERS APPROVE BILL ON DEATH PENALTY FOR HIGH TREASON
The Belarusian parliament's lower chamber, the House of Representatives, on 21 February 2023 approved the second and final reading of a bill that envisages the death penalty for high treason for civil servants and members of the military.
MAY 18, 2022BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO CHANGES DEATH PENALTY LAW TO TARGET OPPOSITION
Belarus has introduced the death penalty for planning an attack or "attempting an act of terrorism", according to a decree issued on 18 May 2022 — charges that target many opposition activists.
- MAY 2, 2022BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: LOWER HOUSE APPROVE IMPOSITION OF DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISM
The lower house of the Belarusian parliament has approved Criminal Code amendments that introduce tougher punishments, ranging to the death penalty, for terrorism.
- MARCH 13, 2022BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONDEMNS EXECUTION
The UN Human Rights Committee on 10 March 2022 condemned Belarus for its execution of Victor Pavlov, whose petition was still being examined by the Committee.
JUNE 14, 2021BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: DEATH ROW PRISONER VIKTAR PAULAU ‘MOST LIKELY EXECUTED’, CONVICT’S SISTER SAID
Death row inmate Viktar Paulau was ‘most likely executed’, the convict’s sister Raisa told Andrey Paluda, coordinator of the campaign ‘Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty in Belarus’.
MAY 5, 2021BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE FOR VIKTAR SKRUNDZIK
The Judicial Chamber on Criminal Case of the Supreme Court of Belarus has dismissed an appeal filed by death row prisoner Viktar Skrundzik, Human Rights Center "Viasna" reported on 4 May 2021.
MAY 3, 2021BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: LUKASHENKO PARDONS 2 BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Illya Kostseu (21) and Stanislau Kostseu (19), who were sentenced to death in January 2020, have been pardoned, human rights centre Viasna reported on 30 April 2021 with reference to the family.