MINSK. July 18 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed into law a bill changing the Belarusian Code of Criminal Proceedings, which allows prosecution for genocide and other grave crimes of dead people, among others.
"The law makes it impermissible to refuse to open a criminal case or to drop proceedings against dead persons who committed crimes against peace and safety of humankind, including genocide, and also war crimes, on which there is no statute of limitation," the president's press service said.
Close relatives of such persons shall be allowed to act as their representatives, it said. At the same time, the refusal of such relatives to participate in a trial will not be a hindrance to the case's investigation and court proceedings.
"This category of cases shall be prosecuted according to the general rules with compulsory defense participation," the statement said.
If a deceased person is found guilty, the conviction will be issued without imposing a penalty.
The aim of the document is to ensure the inevitability of responsibility for genocide and other serious crimes and restore historical justice, Minsk said.