Events

MINSK, 7 August (BelTA) – The pre-trial agreement on cooperation is designed to improve crime detection rather than reduce the term of imprisonment for criminals, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the meeting held on 7 August to discuss a draft law on comprehensive adjustment of the criminal and criminal procedure legislation, BelTA has learned.

According to the head of state, the pre-trial agreement on cooperation has triggered heated debates. In particular, the document says that in order to reduce the term of punishment a criminal will need to provide information on the crimes committed by other people. In this respect the President expressed concern: “Does it mean criminals will not be able to shower the investigation agencies with “tales” about alleged accomplices? Will not they give false testimony for the sake of their necks? Are you confident the agreement will not become a way for dangerous offenders to avoid deserved punishment?”. “Let us be frank: can we be absolutely confident in our law enforcement agencies? Can we be confident that they will use the agreement for lawful purposes only and not for their own advantage in the form of kickbacks in return for mitigating the sentence?” Alexander Lukashenko added.

The head of state was also interested in the efficiency of this instrument and whether it will be able to enhance the crime detection rate.

Today’s meeting also considers such forms of punishment as fines, criminal and legal redress. “We have been making headway in this area. But are there guarantees that such measures will be used in respect of the people who deserve leniency?” the President asked. The Belarusian leader also wondered if financial punishment would help correct such persons and if it is worth to introduce this form of punishment in respect to all the crimes envisaged in the document.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that one should be confident in the answers to the abovementioned questions.