On the Inadmissibility of Violating Legislation Aimed at Countering Extremism

Extremism continues to be a most dangerous phenomenon in modern society, posing a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and national security of the state.

This is why interested services and prevention entities are constantly taking measures aimed at identifying and preventing such manifestations.

Recently, there has been an increase in cases of dissemination of information products included in the republican list of extremist materials in free access on various social networks within the global computer network Internet in the district, in connection with which I clarify.

In accordance with the requirements of Articles 19, 22 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Countering Extremism", the dissemination, public display of extremist materials, their manufacture, publication, storage, and transportation for the purpose of dissemination are prohibited, and citizens bear responsibility for extremist activities in accordance with legislative acts.

According to Part 1 of Article 3614 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, recruitment, other involvement of a person in extremist activities, training, as well as other assistance to extremist activities – are punishable by restriction of liberty for up to four years or deprivation of liberty for two to six years with or without a fine.

In case of dissemination, public display of extremist materials, their manufacture, publication, storage, and transportation for the purpose of dissemination, criminal liability is provided depending on the nature of these materials.

Thus, Article 361 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus establishes responsibility for public calls for the seizure of state power, or violent change of the constitutional order of the Republic of Belarus, or treason, or committing an act of terrorism or sabotage, or carrying out actions aimed at violating the territorial integrity of the Republic of Belarus, or committing other actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus, including the application of restrictive measures (sanctions) against the Republic of Belarus, individuals and legal entities of the Republic of Belarus, or the dissemination of materials containing such calls, in the absence of signs of a more serious crime, a punishment in the form of restriction of liberty for up to five years or deprivation of liberty for up to six years with or without a fine is provided.

For the same actions committed using mass media or the global computer network Internet, – responsibility is provided in the form of deprivation of liberty for a term of four to twelve years with or without a fine.

At the same time, according to Part 2 of Article 50 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, for the above-mentioned crimes, the amount of the fine is set within five hundred to fifty thousand basic units.

In accordance with Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code, responsibility for public insult of the President of the Republic of Belarus is provided in the form of a fine, or correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest, or restriction