The sowing campaign has commenced across the Vitebsk region. The state has allocated substantial funds for its execution, including fuel and lubricants, and diesel fuel. Reconstruction of agricultural product storage facilities has been carried out, and expensive equipment has been procured.

The sowing campaign has commenced across the Vitebsk region. The state has allocated substantial funds for its execution, including fuel and lubricants, and diesel fuel. Reconstruction of agricultural product storage facilities has been carried out, and expensive equipment has been procured. The well-being of not only our region but the entire state depends on the results of the sowing campaign. However, many unscrupulous citizens seek to improve their financial situation by embezzling state funds and material assets allocated for the campaign. This year, within the territory of Lepel district, one citizen has been brought to administrative responsibility under Article 10.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus for the theft of state property from agricultural facilities.

Often, citizens do not consider the consequences when committing theft.

Thus, Article 10.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus (petty theft) stipulates a penalty in the form of a fine ranging from 10 to 30 base units or administrative arrest. If this offense is committed repeatedly within a year, the fine ranges from 30 to 50 base units or administrative arrest.

In addition, the court will recover the amount of material damage caused and the resulting harm (damage to property, equipment, downtime of working hours). This means that the sums recovered by the court are many times greater than the profit obtained from the theft.

Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (theft) provides for imprisonment for up to 3 years, and up to 12 years with confiscation of property, depending on the amount of damage caused.

Meanwhile, the internal affairs bodies, in conjunction with representatives of agricultural organizations, the Lepel District Executive Committee, the Department of Emergency Rescue Operations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Prosecutor's Office of Lepel District, have organized mobile groups. These groups conduct daily raids during evening and night hours to prevent the theft of agricultural products, material assets of agricultural organizations, fuel and lubricants, as well as to ensure compliance with labor discipline in the workplace.

The monitoring conducted in the agricultural sector

organisations has shown that it is not uncommon for agricultural machinery in use to be left overnight in the yards of private homes at the place of residence or in the field, without adequate security. This only contributes to the theft of fuel and lubricants and equipment. In this regard, we would like to draw the attention of officials of agricultural organisations to the adoption of measures to ensure the safety of agricultural machinery in use at night in the field and to eliminate instances of it being left in the yards of private homes.

Head of the Department of Public Order and Prevention

Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs I.A. Mikhno