Belarus plans to increase the list of cases punishable by death

Belarusian flag / Photo EPA-EFE / TOMS KALNINS

Belarus has begun trying to expand its list of the most severely punished terrorist acts to death after activists tried to sabotage parts of the railway network to make it harder for Russia to deploy troops to Ukraine for its invasion. Reuters.

The lower house of the Belarusian parliament has approved a change in the criminal code in two readings, the Belta news agency reported. The change now requires the support of the upper house and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko before it takes effect.

"Destructive forces are continuing their terrorist and extremist activities in an attempt to destabilize Belarus, causing domestic instability and conflict," said Home President Vladimir Andreychenko, alluding to acts of sabotage.

"Activities are being taken to disable railway equipment and railways, which are strategically important facilities," he said. "There can be no justification for the actions of terrorists."

Russia used the former Soviet Union, a close ally of Belarus, as a base to launch its offensive against Ukraine on February 24. Minsk denies involvement in the conflict, but acknowledges that its territory was used for the invasion.

During the attack, opposition media reported that acts of sabotage of the Belarusian railway had been carried out in an attempt to slow the advance of Russian forces.

Those reports say they were targeting specific infrastructure to dump some sections of the railway.

The Belarusian opposition, which has called on Belarusians to block roads, said there had been dozens of acts of sabotage.

Belarusian police said in early April that they had arrested at least two groups of saboteurs and that they had opened fire in one of the cases. At least two people were injured.

Belarus's public prosecutor has accused the activists of terrorism.

Belarus currently carries out the death penalty for acts of terrorism that cause loss of life, brutal killings and multiple homicides.

In the crackdown on anti-government protests in 2020, several people were charged with terrorism for crimes that may once have been considered hooliganism.

The investigative committee, for example, said one person was charged with terrorism for spilling red paint on a judge's car and another with a felony count of throwing a stone at a prosecutor's window.

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