Amendments introducing death penalty for officials for treason to take effect in Belarus on March 25

MINSK. March 14 (Interfax) - Amendments to the Belarusian Criminal Code will take effect on March 25 to introduce the death penalty against officials and servicemen for treason and to criminalize propaganda of terrorism and discreditation of the army.

The law was published on Belarus's national legislative website on Tuesday.

"The law takes effect ten days after its official publishing," the document said.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed the bill into law on March 9. The primary objective of the law was defined as "stronger countering of extremist (terrorist) and anti-governmental crimes."

The law applies criminal responsibility of officials for treason to all persons in authority. It also introduces capital punishment, the death sentence, for treason committed by officials or servicemen.

There will be an additional penalty, a fine of up to 50,000 basic units (about $740,000) for certain anti-governmental crimes. According to the amendment authors, "that will ensure unconditional compensation of the damage done by crimes and deprivation of their perpetrators of funds for continuing criminal activity."

The law also criminalizes terrorist propaganda, discreditation of the Armed Forces, other military formations and paramilitary organizations and a breach of state secret protection requirements.

The period of detention of persons suspected of treason, conspiracy, other actions aimed to grab power, espionage and agent operations is now increased from three to ten days.

Meanwhile, persons who prepared for terror attacks but reconsidered their intentions and helped prevent a crime will be exempt from criminal responsibility.