MINSK. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Members of the House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly have voted in favor of legislation that envisions introducing the death penalty for the country's officials found guilty of high treason.
"It envisions the possibility of using capital punishment in the form of the death penalty for officials who hold state posts and persons with military personnel status if they commit high treason," the press service for the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament quoted national security commission deputy chairman Alexander Dubov as saying.
The legislation also makes it possible to introduce penalties in the form of fines for crimes against peace, human security and public security. Furthermore, it extends the terms of detention of persons suspected of espionage, high treason and a number of other anti-state crimes to ten days and the period of time during which charges may be brought to 20 days from the moment of detention.
After being approved by the Council of the Republic, the upper house of the parliament, the document will be submitted to President Alexander Lukashenko for signing.