MINSK. Feb 22 (Interfax) - The special services of Western countries have sharply intensified all types of intelligence against Belarus, Belarusian State Security Committee Chairman Ivan Tertel said.
"The State Security Committee notes sharp intensification of all types of intelligences of special services of the collective West against the Republic of Belarus," Tertel was quoted as saying by the BelTA state news agency while presenting the bill On Changing the Codes on Criminal Liability Matters to Belarus's Council of the Republic of the National Assembly members.
"The main emphasis is on recruitment work regarding people who can receive classified information, recruitment of employees of defense and security agencies and state administration officials. Bearing in mind the aggressive activities of foreign special services to infiltrate defense and security agencies and the state administration, - by the way, more than ten traitors have been detained by the State Security Committee since the beginning of the year - and the considerable damage inflicted on national interests, the situation requires comprehensive measures to neutralize these threats," Tertel said.
Tertel also said the current edition of the High Treason article of the Belarusian Criminal Code, which envisages increased liability for high treason by officials in relevant positions or servicemen "does not embrace all potentially vulnerable categories of state servants."
"In this regard, it is proposed to expand increased liability to the category of officials in state positions, which comprises all authorities. Besides, it is proposed to toughen punishment for high treason, including to the exceptional measure of punishment, the death penalty," he said.
"This measure, by the way, is envisaged by the legislation of the United States (some states), China, Egypt, Iran, Vietnam, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and some other states. This highest measure, which is used in exceptional cases, will become a serious deterring factor for potential traitors. We interpret this measure, above all else, as preventative, aimed at preventing serious crimes against the state," Tertel said.