Combating Corruption

Combating corruption as a social phenomenon that threatens the rule of law, equality, and social justice, undermining the moral foundations of society, is one of the most important directions of the criminal policy of any state, including the Republic of Belarus.

The most dangerous and widespread manifestation of corruption is bribery.

According to criminal legislation, receiving a bribe is the acceptance by an official of material values for themselves, provided exclusively in connection with the official position held by them, for a favorable resolution of issues within their competence, for actions in the interests of the briber that this person was obliged and could perform using their official powers.

Criminal liability for receiving a bribe by an official is provided for in part 1 of Article 430 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, and if the specified actions are committed repeatedly, criminal liability arises under part 2 of the same article.

The crime provided for in part 2 of Article 430 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (repeated receipt of a bribe) falls into the category of serious crimes. The sanction of this article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to ten years with confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities.

In May of this year, the court of the Braslaŭ district considered a criminal case against P. for committing crimes provided for in parts 1 and 2 of Article 430 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (receiving a bribe and repeated receipt of a bribe).

P. was accused of having, while holding the position of a leading specialist in one of the state institutions located in the territory of the Braslaŭ district, for personal enrichment, over a period of 6 months, while in the cities of Minsk and Braslaŭ, exclusively in connection with the official position held, received from representatives of various economic entities, as bribes, monetary funds totaling almost 3,000 rubles (taking into account the denomination) for a favorable resolution of issues within his competence, for actions in the interests of the briber that he was obliged and could perform using his official powers.

The court of the Braslaŭ district found P. guilty of committing crimes provided for in parts 1 and 2 of Article 430 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, and he was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment to be served in a correctional colony under strict conditions, with confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions for a period of 5 years.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor
Braslaŭ District
S.P. Harbus