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 22, 2000BelarusDEATH PENALTY
The UN Committee Against Torture considered Belarus'...
The UN Committee Against Torture considered Belarus' third periodic report on the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment at its meetings in November 2000
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2000BelarusDEATH PENALTY
A German citizen, Christoph Lez, was arrested on espionage...
A German citizen, Christoph Lez, was arrested on espionage charges
- APRIL 26, 2000BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Belarus cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty...
Belarus cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- JANUARY 26, 2000BelarusDEATH PENALTY
The Council of Europe (CE) Parliamentary Assembly "expressed...
The Council of Europe (CE) Parliamentary Assembly "expressed its profound concern that Belarus continued to fall seriously short of Council of Europe standards as regards pluralist democracy, the rule of law and human rights"
- JANUARY 1, 2000BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: state treason; conspiracy aimed...
Capital crimes are: state treason; conspiracy aimed at seizure of state power; terrorism, terrorist act against a foreigner; sabotage; gangsterism; actions aimed at frustrating order in prisons; premeditated murder under aggravating circumstances; rape by
- JUNE 24, 1999BelarusDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, Anton Borissovitch Bondarenko was executed
On June 24, Anton Borissovitch Bondarenko was executed
- JUNE 23, 1999BelarusDEATH PENALTY
On June 23, two men were executed, after being convicted...
On June 23, two men were executed, after being convicted of murder
- APRIL 28, 1999BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Belarus was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Belarus was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 28 (1999/61)
- JANUARY 1, 1999BelarusDEATH PENALTY
President Alexander Lukashenko has been sharply criticized...
President Alexander Lukashenko has been sharply criticized in the West for his authoritarian rule and in January 1997 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe suspended Belarus' special guest status, also because of its position on the death pe
- JANUARY 1, 1999BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Reports claim that at least 13 people were sentenced...
Reports claim that at least 13 people were sentenced to death in 1998 after all were convicted of premeditated murder
- JANUARY 1, 1999BelarusDEATH PENALTY
In April 1993, the Parliament passed (in first reading)...
In April 1993, the Parliament passed (in first reading) a draft Penal Code of the Republic which provides for capital punishment only in cases of premeditated murder under aggravating circumstances
- JANUARY 1, 1999BelarusDEATH PENALTY
The main reasons for the retention of the death penalty...
The main reasons for the retention of the death penalty are the serious crime rise in the Republic, and the fact that the idea of abolition has no public support