Belarusian president signs amnesty bill into law

MINSK. July 3 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a bill on the amnesty in connection with the 80th anniversary of Belarus' liberation from Nazi invaders into law.

"To release from punishment, including community service, a fine, a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities, correctional labor, military service restrictions, arrest, restriction of freedom, temporary incarceration (hereinafter referred to as incarceration unless specified otherwise) and other forms of criminal responsibility, such as a deferred or suspended sentence and a conviction without sentencing," the bill, published on the Belarusian national website of legal information on July 3, said.

Minors, pregnant women, women and single men with children under the age of 18, with the exception of those who have committed a deliberate crime against a minor, persons who have reached the retirement age, people with group I and II disabilities, people with active tuberculosis and cancer, victims of the Chernobyl disaster, and people who were injured or got sick in the line of military duty qualify for the amnesty, the document said.

Lukashenko announced the possible amnesty on Tuesday, while addressing a meeting on Belarus's liberation from Nazi invaders. He said that patients with severe cancer symptoms, who took part in the 2020 unrest, would be released from custody.