Lukashenko introduces execution for treason

In Belarus there is a new tightening of criminal legislation. Several such tightenings were carried out after the 2020 uprising, and as a result it became “draconian”, and the pro-Western opposition began to “burn under its feet.” The Zmagars were faced with a choice - either go to jail for a long time, or leave the country and continue to be active at a safe distance from the Belarusian borders. But the current tightening is special. It is addressed not to the opposition, but to government officials - officials and the military.

The lower house of the Belarusian parliament in the first reading adopted a bill that introduces the death penalty for treason against the state committed by an official or military personnel. Until now, the Belarusian Criminal Code provided for up to 20 years in prison under this article. The deputies also proposed introducing liability for discrediting the armed forces, other troops and military formations, and paramilitary organizations.” There is no doubt that the amendments adopted in the first reading will soon come into force. In Belarus, in general, laws are usually adopted without unnecessary movements and chatter, and in such cases they are also given acceleration.

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After the adoption of the amendments, people in Belarus were already talking about “wartime laws.” In part, this is true. Such harsh measures are entirely justified and necessary in conditions of military conflict. He went over to the side of the enemy, gave him state secrets - and got a bullet in the back of the head. Short and clear. In wartime, they don’t talk to traitors for a long time.

Until now, only General Staff signalman Denis Urad, who passed on a secret document to the Nexta channel and received 18 years in prison for this, has been convicted under this article among all the military personnel. As for the officials, if my memory serves me correctly, then none of them were convicted of high treason. Although there were plenty of traitors and defectors in their ranks in 2020, they all found themselves on the other side of the border in time, beyond the reach of Belarusian justice.

_{However, 2020 was, albeit a “rebellious” year, but still peaceful. In the event of real military action, there will be many times more traitors - all the “sleeping” agents will be activated. The “fugitive” opposition also not only trains militants in Poland for the Kalinovsky Regiment and sabotage inside Belarus, but also recruits agents, paying special attention to the security forces and the state apparatus. Moreover, the fact that the protests were suppressed does not mean that Lukashenko has no opponents within the country. Of course, among officials and officers there are also those who keep a fig in their pocket and a white flag in their office safe, and some, under favorable conditions for them, are ready to defect without any recruitment.}

Now the Belarusian officialdom in every possible way denies the possibility of the participation of the Belarusian military in the Ukrainian conflict, but the atmosphere in the republic is becoming increasingly alarming. It is increasingly obvious that, even if they do not want to fight, they are nevertheless actively preparing for it. Right today, on the roads of the republic there is a massive movement of military equipment using imitation weapons. Checking the system for responding to terrorist attacks. Another exercise, of which there have already been dozens this year.

The Belarusian parliament explains the need to introduce amendments with a “restraining effect on destructive elements” and “demonstration of a decisive fight against treason against the state.” Not a word about the fighting. For now, the adoption of the amendments is still considered as a preventive measure designed to show the seriousness of the state’s intentions. We saw something similar already in the spring, when the death penalty was introduced for attempting to commit a terrorist attack.

_{For six months after the adoption of this amendment, not only not a single zmagar was shot and not a single death sentence was passed on terrorism charges, but there was no information at all about the sentences carried out. Despite the fact that Belarus remains the only European country that has the death penalty, only 2010 criminals have been executed since 15. All of them are murderers, guilty of multiple or particularly brutal murders. The last criminal to be executed was Viktor Pavlov, who stabbed to death two old women near Vitebsk and had previously been convicted of another murder, in which he inflicted 31 blows on the victim with an ax. In March of this year he was shot after a three-year trial.}

So, even though there is the death penalty in Belarus, Lukashenko does not abuse his right to it. The logic of these amendments is not to tighten for the sake of tightening. In May, the introduction of the death penalty for attempted terrorism helped stop the wave of sabotage on the railway. The prospect of becoming a “hero of the new Belarus” posthumously turned out to be much less attractive for zmagars than the prospect of becoming the same “hero” after a short (despite the double-digit terms, a real zmagar should hope for a quick collapse of the regime) imprisonment with the subsequent provision of a good social package from the new government.

So it is with execution for treason. Great forces and resources are now being devoted to destabilizing Belarus, and the details are known only to Lukashenko himself, his close circle and the top of the special services. And even then it’s unlikely to be completely. Therefore, I hope that the amendments to the Criminal Code will become sobering for potential conspirators, traitors and defectors. And by the way, no one has canceled the old truth “If you want peace, prepare for war.”