Calling to impose sanctions will be an offence in Belarus?

The Belarusian authorities demonstrate what a panic fear of imposing international sanctions they have.

A possibility of imposing responsibility, also criminal one, for calls to slap sanctions against the country is being discussed in Belarus, TUT.by learned from an anonymous source close to top officials.

It should be noted that the Belarusian legislation provides for criminal responsibility for discrediting the state. The corresponding article (369-1) was added to the Criminal Code in December 2005.

“Providing a foreign state, a foreign or international organization with deliberately false information concerning political, social, military or international standing of the Republic of Belarus, legal status of citizens in the Republic of Belarus that discredit the Republic of Belarus and the country’s governmental bodies (Discrediting of the republic of Belarus)” can be punished with an arrest of up to 6 months or imprisonment for a period up to 2 years.

Besides, the Criminal Code of Belarus carries punishment for defamation of the president (article 367), insulting the president (article 368) and insulting a public official (article 369).