On the inadmissibility of violations of the legislation on the conduct of mass events

Our country is on the brink of a crucial socio-political event - the elections of the President of the Republic of Belarus. During the election campaign, while exercising your rights and freedoms, it is important not to forget about the norms of law. In this regard, we draw attention to certain aspects of compliance with legislation.

Violating the rules for organizing and conducting mass events entails liability - either administrative or criminal.

In particular, for failing to comply with the procedure for organizing or conducting mass events, as well as public calls for such actions, administrative liability arises under part 1 of Article 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

This norm provides for a fine of up to 100 basic units, community service, or administrative arrest.

Organizers of illegal rallies and processions are liable under part 2 of Article 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, where the penalty is stricter - a fine of up to 150 basic units, community service, or arrest.

Repeated violations of the procedure for organizing or conducting mass events, as well as public calls for this, entail criminal liability under Article 342-2 of the Criminal Code, with punishment of up to 3 years of imprisonment.

Organizing or actively participating in group actions that grossly violate public order and are associated with blatant disobedience to the lawful demands of representatives of authority or that disrupt the operation of transport, enterprises, institutions, or organizations, entails liability under Article 342 of the Criminal Code, which provides for punishment of up to 4 years of imprisonment.

Illegal mass events accompanied by violence against individuals, riots, arson, destruction of property, or armed resistance to representatives of authority are classified under Article 293 of the Criminal Code as mass riots. Organizing such events entails punishment of up to 15 years of imprisonment, while participation in them entails punishment of up to 8 years of imprisonment.

During mass events, the demands of police officers, military personnel, and other representatives of authority must be complied with immediately and unconditionally.

In accordance with Article 24.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, disobedience to a lawful order or demand of an official while performing their official duties entails a fine of up to 100 basic units, community service, or administrative arrest.

Resistance, that is, active opposition to an internal affairs officer or another person while they are performing their duties to maintain public order, associated with the use of violence or the threat of its use, is a serious crime and under part 2 of Article 363 of the Criminal Code entails punishment of up to 7 years of imprisonment.