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 8, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS PUTS ON HOLD DEPORTATION OF FOREIGNER WHO MAY FACE DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN
A Minsk court has overturned the decision to deport Iranian citizen Merhdat Jamshidiyan who has spent 10 months in Belarusian prison. His case has been sent back for review.
- MARCH 28, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS - Two executed
In mid-May, two executions, of Viktar Liotau and Alyaksey Mikhalenia, have reportedly taken place in secret.
- MARCH 18, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS ORDERS EXPULSION OF CHRISTIAN CONVERT FACING DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN
Belarusian authorities on 15 March 2019 ordered the expulsion of an Iranian man who has converted to Christianity and is wanted by Tehran for apostasy and alleged murder.
- FEBRUARY 12, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTY
THE MAJORITY OF BELARUSIANS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DEATH PENALTY (60%)
The share of Belarusians who support the use of the death penalty increased from 52% in 2016 to 60% in 2017, a poll by the Presidential Administration’s Information and Analytical Center showed.
- JANUARY 10, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS COURT PASSES DEATH SENTENCE ON MURDERER OF TWO GIRLS
Alyaksandr Asipovich, 36-year-old, was sentenced to death on 9 January 2019 for the murder of two girls.
- JANUARY 1, 2019BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
- NOVEMBER 29, 2018BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS EXECUTES TWO CONVICTED MURDERERS
Belarus has executed in recent days two convicted murderers, the human rights group Vyasna (Spring) said.
JUNE 15, 2018BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS - 2 SENTENS SUSPENDED
WHILE APPEALS CONSIDERED
MAY 29, 2018BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCES FOR ZHYLNIKAU AND SUKHARKO
The Supreme Court upheld the death sentences earlier handed down to Aliaksandr Zhylnikau and Viachaslau Sukharko for the murder of three people.
- MARCH 7, 2018BelarusDEATH PENALTY
RIGHTS GROUP SAYS BELARUS EXECUTED CONVICTED KILLER LAST OCTOBER
A Minsk-based human rights group says that more than four months ago Belarusian authorities executed a man who had been convicted of killing his own children.
- JANUARY 31, 2018BelarusDEATH PENALTY
FIVE DEATH SENTENCES GIVEN IN BELARUS IN 2017
Belarusian courts handed down five death sentences and three life sentences in 2017, Belarusian Supreme Court First Deputy Chairman Valery Kalinkovich said.
- JANUARY 20, 2018BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: TWO PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING YOUNG COUPLE
Minsk City Court sentenced two persons to death after a retrial.