Extremism and terrorism pose a threat to the national security of the state.

Extremism and terrorism pose a threat to the national security of the state.

Extremism (extremist activity) means the activity of citizens of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens or stateless persons, or political parties, trade unions, other public associations, religious and other organisations (including international ones) and their representative offices, formations and individual entrepreneurs in planning, organising, preparing and committing encroachments on the independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty, foundations of the constitutional system, public safety by means of:

- violent change of the constitutional system and (or) territorial integrity of the Republic of Belarus;

- seizure or retention of state power by unconstitutional means;

- creation of an extremist formation or participation in it;

- assisting in the implementation of extremist activity, undergoing training or other preparation for participation in such activity;

- dissemination for these purposes of knowingly false information about the political, economic, social, military or international situation of the Republic of Belarus;

- insulting for these purposes a representative of authority in connection with the performance of his official duties, discrediting bodies of state power and administration;

- creation for such purposes of an illegal armed formation;

- carrying out terrorist activities;

- inciting racial, national, religious or other enmity or discord against a social group, including committing unlawful acts for these purposes against public order and public morality, the order of administration, life and health, personal freedom, honour, dignity of the individual, property;

- organisation and implementation of mass riots, acts of vandalism, financing of extremist activity, public calls for the organisation or holding for the specified purposes of illegal assemblies, street processions, rallies, picketing, etc.

Extremist materials mean flags, anthems, swastikas, emblems, symbols, logos, pennants, graffiti, swastikas, badges and other distinguishing marks used for the purpose of carrying out extremist activity or its propaganda, calls for extremist activity and actions.

According to

Art. 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus: the dissemination of information products containing calls for extremist activities or promoting such activities, as well as the production, storage, and transportation of such information products for the purpose of dissemination, shall entail a fine of up to 20 base units with confiscation of the item of the administrative offence; for individual entrepreneurs – a fine from 20 to 50 base units; for legal entities – from 50 to 200 base units, with confiscation of the item of the administrative offence.

Criminal liability is incurred for inciting racial, national, religious, or social enmity or discord (Art. 130 of the Criminal Code).

Thus, in accordance with Part 1 of Art. 130 of the Criminal Code, intentional actions aimed at inciting racial, national, or other social enmity or discord based on racial, national, religious, linguistic, or other social affiliation shall be punished by a fine, arrest, restriction of liberty for up to 5 years, or imprisonment for the same term.

The same actions, combined with violence or committed by a person using their official powers, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of 3 to 10 years (Part 2 of Art. 130 of the Criminal Code).

If such actions are committed by a group of persons, or negligently result in a person's death, liability shall be incurred under Part 3 of Art. 130, providing for up to 12 years of imprisonment.

Article 342 of the Criminal Code provides for liability for organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or actively participating in them.

Thus, according to Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code, the organization of group actions that grossly violate public order and are associated with blatant disobedience to the lawful requirements of representatives of authority and result in the disruption of the operation of transport, enterprises, institutions, or organizations, or active participation in such actions in the absence of signs of a more serious crime, shall be punished by a fine, arrest, restriction of liberty for up to 3 years, or imprisonment for the same term.

Training, or other preparation of persons for participation in group actions that grossly violate public order, as well as financing or other material support for such activities in the absence of signs of a more serious crime, shall entail liability under Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code and shall be punished by arrest or imprisonment for up to 2 years.

Article 361 of the Criminal Code provides for liability for calls for actions aimed at harming national security.

Republic of Belarus. The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for up to 5 years.

Creation of an extremist formation (Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code) or leadership of such a formation or a structural unit within it is punishable by restriction of liberty for up to 5 years or imprisonment for 3 to 7 years (Part 1 of the Article).

The same actions, committed repeatedly or by an official, using their official powers, may entail restriction of liberty for 3 to 5 years or imprisonment for a term of 6 to 10 years.

Financing the activities of an extremist formation is punishable by arrest or restriction of liberty for up to 5 years or imprisonment for a term of 3 to 6 years (Art. 361-2).

In order to prevent extremism, it is advisable to carry out measures to form legal culture among youth, foster a tolerant worldview in youth, and a tolerant attitude towards people, regardless of their nationality, religion, social status, improve youth leisure and recreation, and assist in the employment of young specialists.

Terrorism is a socio-political criminal phenomenon, representing an ideology and practice of violence or threat of violence for the purpose of influencing decision-making by authorities, obstructing political or other public activities, provoking international complications or war, intimidating the population, and destabilising public order.

Responsibility is provided for by Art. 124, 126, 289, 290, 290-1, 290-2, 290-3, 290-4, 290-5, 359, 361 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

Art. 289 of the Criminal Code for committing an act of terrorism – an explosion, arson, flood or other acts of a generally dangerous nature or creating a danger of death of people, causing bodily harm or other grave consequences, for the purpose of influencing decision-making by authorities or obstructing political or other public activities, or intimidating the population, or destabilising public order, provides for responsibility in the form of imprisonment for 8 to 15 years.

The same actions, committed repeatedly or by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, or by a person who has previously committed crimes provided for by Art. 124, 126, 290-1 - 290-5, Part 4 of Art. 309, Part 3 of Art. 311 and Art. 359 of the Criminal Code or associated with causing grievous bodily harm, are punishable by imprisonment for 8 to 20 years.

Threat of committing an act

terrorism (Art. 290 of the Criminal Code) is punishable by arrest or restriction of liberty for up to 5 years, or imprisonment for the same term.

The same actions committed repeatedly, or by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, or resulting in damage on a large scale or other grave consequences are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 3 to 8 years.

The sanction of Art. 290-1 for financing of terrorist activities provides for imprisonment for up to 15 years with a fine.

A person who has committed the financing of terrorist activities shall be exempted from liability if they promptly declared their actions and (or) otherwise contributed to the prevention of an act of terrorism and the detection of this crime.

Assistant Prosecutor of Lepel District
3rd class lawyer T.V. Lukutina