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
- MAY 28, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Belarusian Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumaw said...
Belarusian Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumaw said that it is premature to abolish capital punishment in this country
- MAY 24, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Lithuanian and Belarusian diplomats discussed bilateral...
Lithuanian and Belarusian diplomats discussed bilateral and regional cooperation, issues of trade and transport, and development of the legal base at a meeting in Druskininkai, southern Lithuania
- MAY 22, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
The Speaker of the lower chamber of the Belarus parliament...
The Speaker of the lower chamber of the Belarus parliament Vadim Popov expressed doubt that "Belarussians will support the ban on capital punishment" in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States and Russia
- APRIL 22, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
The former chief executioner of Belarus said he was...
The former chief executioner of Belarus said he was ready to testify in an international court against President Alexander Lukashenko on charges of abusing human rights in the ex-Soviet country
- MARCH 21, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis said Lithuania...
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis said Lithuania was ready to make steps to improve relations with neighbouring Belarus, but it must first see Minsk making such steps, including expanding the powers of its Parliament, improving the human rights
- MARCH 9, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer...
Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer condemned the use of the death penalty in Belarus and urged the Belarusian authorities not to sentence to death the suspected kidnappers of [Russian Public TV] journalist Dmitriy Zavadskiy, who are curr
- FEBRUARY 11, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Seven people were sentenced to death in Belarus in...
Seven people were sentenced to death in Belarus in 2001, and 11 others got life in prison, Valyantsin Sukala, chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus, told reporters
- JANUARY 19, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer,...
Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, asked about the chances of Belarus joining the Council of Europe, expressed hopes that "a democratisation process will start" in that country
- JANUARY 19, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer,...
Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, asked about the chances of Belarus joining the Council of Europe, expressed hopes that "a democratisation process will start" in that country
- JANUARY 1, 2002BelarusDEATH PENALTY
The death sentence is applied for the following crimes:...
The death sentence is applied for the following crimes: treason; attempting to overthrough the government; terrorism; sabotage; gangsterism; actions aimed at frustrating order in prisons; premeditated murder under aggravating circumstances; a second convi
- NOVEMBER 21, 2001BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Lithuanian MP Jonas Cekuolis, head of Lithuanian delegation...
Lithuanian MP Jonas Cekuolis, head of Lithuanian delegation to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly [PACE], said that the Vilnius forum decided to invite Belarusian delegations formed of both government and opposition representatives
- NOVEMBER 21, 2001BelarusDEATH PENALTY
The consultative council of [Belarusian] opposition...
The consultative council of [Belarusian] opposition parties met to express concerns about the recommendations issued by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) to the Belarusian authorities