From fine to imprisonment: what threatens the violation of the environmental regime

In Belarus, specially protected natural areas (SPAs) make up about 9% of the total area of the country, Inna Derman, senior prosecutor of the Department for Supervision of Ecology and Land Use of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Belarus, told reporters on September 29.

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Compliance with the environmental regime on these lands is under strict supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Article 55 of the Constitution of Belarus clearly stipulates that environmental protection and respect for natural resources are the duty of everyone, Derman said. For violation of the legislation on specially protected natural areas, both administrative and criminal liability is provided.

The representative of the supervisory authority clarified that a fine is provided for non-compliance with the protection regime of protected areas, in accordance with Article 16.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences. It can reach up to 30 basic values for individuals, up to 100 for individual entrepreneurs and up to 500 for legal entities.

- At the same time, for deliberate destruction or damage to valuable natural complexes or protected areas, criminal liability comes under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, the senior prosecutor stressed. Along with fines, it provides for arrest, restriction or imprisonment for up to three years.

Photo by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection