Liberalisation without detriment. Administrative offences in hunting will now be punished in a new way.

Amendments have been made to certain regulatory legal acts, in particular, those governing liability for violations in the field of hunting management and hunting. It is becoming more differentiated and liberalised towards those who have committed minor violations.

For example, the liability of hunters for violating hunting safety rules, and for illegally carrying cartridges loaded with bullets and shot, has been significantly mitigated. However, if such violations are repeated within a year, the hunter, as before, will face a fine of up to 40 base units or deprivation of special rights.

Furthermore, sanctions against officials of hunting users for minor violations of hunting management rules have been substantially softened, and the liability of legal entities has been abolished.

The maximum fine for other minor violations of the rules has been reduced to 10 base units, and a warning is also provided for.

The new version of Article 15.37 of the Code of Administrative Offences comes into force on August 3, 2019. Administrative proceedings initiated and not yet completed at that time under this article will be considered in accordance with the more liberal version.

Another wave of liberalisation will affect those who, due to hunting violations, are deprived of the special right to hunt and, consequently, lose the right to possess weapons. Previously, such a person could apply for a permit to store and carry weapons only after 3 years, but now they can do so immediately after the expiry of the period for which they were deprived of the special right to hunt (this period can be as short as 3 months). This innovation is provided for by amendments made to Article 27 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Weapons": "A citizen whose permit has been revoked due to the imposition of an administrative penalty in the form of deprivation of special rights for violating the rules of hunting management and hunting, has the right to reapply for a permit for those types of civilian weapons, the right to which they held before the permit was revoked, after the execution of such penalty or the occurrence of circumstances under which the decision on imposing such penalty is not subject to execution."