Illegal Migration

The issue of illegal migration in the Republic of Belarus is influenced by its geographical location. Most illegal migrants view the Republic of Belarus as a transit country for subsequent illegal emigration to the countries of the European Union.

The organization of illegal migration poses a threat to public and national security, economic stability, and contributes to the worsening of the criminal situation.

Given the location of the Braslaŭ District on the border with the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia, these issues remain relevant in our region.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Braslaŭ District supported the state prosecution in the district court in a criminal case against M. for committing crimes under part 1 of article 14, part 1 of article 431 of the Criminal Code – attempted bribery, and part 2 of article 371-1 of the Criminal Code - assisting in the illegal departure from the Republic of Belarus of foreign citizens (organization of illegal migration), committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, as well as R., B., R. for committing a crime under part 2 of article 371-1 of the Criminal Code - assisting in the illegal departure from the Republic of Belarus of foreign citizens (organization of illegal migration), committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy.

During the court investigation, it was established that R., having a common intent aimed at committing criminal activities related to the organization of illegal migration of foreign citizens, conspired with B., M., R., and other unidentified persons and, acting as a group of persons by prior conspiracy, for mercenary motives, expressed in the desire to receive monetary funds for committing the aforementioned criminal acts, while on the territory of Minsk, Minsk and Vitebsk regions, assisted in the illegal departure from the Republic of Belarus to the countries of the European Union, in violation of the established procedure and outside the established checkpoints of two citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, who did not have the appropriate visas of the Schengen Agreement countries and intended to travel to the countries of the European Union in violation of the established procedure and outside the established checkpoints.

M., having a common intent to bribe an officer of the border post, who is a public official, for a favorable resolution of issues within his competence, expressed in providing assistance in the illegal crossing of the State border of the Republic of Belarus with the Republic of Lithuania by foreign citizens, while on the territory of the Braslaŭ District on one of the days in February 2023, handed over to a person performing their official duties a banknote of the Federal Reserve System of the USA in the amount of 50 dollars.

In the court session, M., R., B., R. fully admitted their guilt in the crimes charged against them. In conjunction with the testimonies of witnesses, expert conclusions, protocols of operational-search activities, investigative actions, physical evidence, and other written materials of the case, thoroughly examined during the court investigation, the guilt of M. in committing crimes under part 1 of article 14, part 1 of article 431 of the Criminal Code, and the guilt of R., B., R. in committing a crime under part 2 of article 371-1 of the Criminal Code was proven in full.

Considering the evidence presented by the state prosecutor, the court found M. guilty of attempted bribery, of assisting in the illegal departure from the Republic of Belarus of foreign citizens (organization of illegal migration), committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, and sentenced him to imprisonment for a term of 3 years and 6 months to be served in a correctional colony under enhanced regime with a fine of 18,500 rubles.

R., B., R. were found guilty of assisting in the illegal departure from the Republic of Belarus of foreign citizens (organization of illegal migration), committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy. R. and B. were sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 3 years to be served in a correctional colony under enhanced regime with a fine of 7,400 rubles. R. was sentenced under part 2 of article 371-1 of the Criminal Code to imprisonment for a term of 3 years with a fine of 7,400 rubles, and a deferment of the execution of the main sentence of imprisonment for a term of 3 years was applied.

The court's verdict has not entered into legal force, may be appealed and contested in the appellate procedure.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor
Braslaŭ District                                                                                                                                   E.S.Isakova