Compulsory isolation in medical and labor prophylactic institutions is a restrictive measure aimed at overcoming alcohol dependence, as well as a means of protecting the rights of citizens suffering from the actions of individuals who abuse alcoholic beverages.
The head of state emphasized at a meeting of the Security Council that every person in the country should feel absolutely protected from crimes; without this, it is impossible to speak of any legal well-being of society.
In the prevention of offenses committed by citizens abusing alcoholic beverages, their compulsory isolation in medical and labor prophylactics for medical and social readaptation with mandatory involvement in labor plays an important role.
Compulsory isolation in medical and labor prophylactics is a restrictive measure aimed at overcoming alcohol dependence, as well as a means of protecting the rights of citizens suffering from the actions of individuals abusing alcoholic beverages.
According to the provisions of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the procedure and conditions for directing citizens to medical and labor prophylactics and the conditions of their stay in them," individuals suffering from chronic alcoholism who systematically violate public order, labor discipline, or the rights of other citizens due to their behavior related to alcohol abuse are subject to direction to medical and labor prophylactics.
Citizens suffering from chronic alcoholism who have been brought to administrative responsibility three or more times within a year for committing administrative offenses while in a state of alcohol intoxication, have been warned about the possibility of being directed to medical and labor prophylactics, and have been brought to administrative responsibility for committing an administrative offense while in a state of alcohol intoxication within a year after this warning may be directed to medical and labor prophylactics. Additionally, citizens obliged to reimburse the costs incurred by the state for the maintenance of children under state care who have violated labor discipline twice within a year due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and who have been warned about the possibility of being directed to medical and labor prophylactics, and have violated labor discipline within a year after this warning due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages may be directed to medical and labor prophylactics.
The identification of such individuals, the preparation of materials for their direction to medical and labor prophylactics, and the execution of relevant court decisions are handled by the internal affairs authorities.
Whether a citizen suffers from chronic alcoholism, needs compulsory isolation and medical-social readaptation, or has diseases that prevent their direction to a medical and labor prophylactic is determined by special medical commissions established in healthcare organizations.
Decisions on direction to a medical and labor prophylactic are made by the courts.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Vitebsk Region has summarized the judicial and prosecutorial practice on cases of this category, the results of which were reviewed at a joint meeting of the regional prosecutor's office board and the presidium of the Vitebsk Regional Court.
The study of civil cases showed that mainly unemployed men over 40 years old and women aged 25 to 40, obliged to reimburse the costs incurred by the state for the maintenance of children under state care, are directed to medical and labor prophylactics.
These citizens typically committed administrative offenses such as petty hooliganism, drinking alcoholic beverages in public places, and appearing in public places or at work in a state of alcohol intoxication. Often, their actions harm family members, close relatives, neighbors, as well as bystanders. Constant drunkenness negatively affects the material well-being of the family.
Some individuals, coming to the attention of law enforcement and judicial authorities, attempted to rid themselves of alcohol dependence by introducing appropriate medications or coding. However, these measures do not constitute an unconditional basis for refusal to direct them to a medical and labor prophylactic, as, in addition to this, the individual must have a stable remission - abstinence from the consumption of alcoholic beverages for a year, appropriate behavior in daily life and at work, indicating an intention to lead a sober lifestyle.
The President of the Republic of Belarus also noted that the measures taken by law enforcement agencies to prevent and combat domestic violence and petty crime are insufficient. In this regard, all interested agencies, especially the internal affairs authorities, should conduct proactive work in this direction. Timely identification of individuals prone to alcohol abuse and committing offenses, taking preventive measures provided by law against them, including directing them to medical and labor prophylactics, is necessary to minimize the possible negative consequences of their actions and to protect the rights of other citizens.
Prosecutor of the Department for Supervision
of Compliance with the Law of Judicial
Decisions in Civil Cases
I. Tavtyn