In Belarus, the number of crimes committed by teenagers decreased by 14 percent

In the conditions when attackers actively use the Internet and social networks to recruit and spread radical ideas, the safety of young people and the prevention of their involvement in illegal activities are of particular relevance. How to recognize attempts to involve in dubious online communities and incite to commit crimes, told at a press conference in the House of Press.

Illustrative SB photo From robbery to extremism, children are the most exposed to outside influences. Nevertheless, thanks to the measures taken this year in Belarus, it was possible to maintain a positive trend of reducing juvenile delinquency, said Roman Bardeev, Senior Inspector for Special Assignments of the Department for the Organization of the Work of Inspections on Minors of the Prevention Department of the SUOPP MIA:

- According to the results of 10 months, the number of criminal cases investigated and sent to court, in which minors were recognized as suspects, decreased by 14 percent. The trend is typical for all regions of the country, with the exception of Minsk, where there is an increase in such crimes. The number of juvenile offenders has also decreased by almost 15 percent. The number of persons who committed a crime by a group, including an organized group, has also decreased. The number of children who committed a crime in the state of alcohol and narcotic intoxication has decreased. At the same time, there is an increase in certain types of illegal acts committed by children. For example, robberies, an increase of almost 32 percent. Interestingly, in 20 of 29 cases, electronic smoking systems were the subject of criminal encroachment. Particular attention is paid to terrorism and extremism. The number of such crimes decreased by 21 percent - from 66 to 52 cases. For the most part, teenagers made public calls for action to seize power, insult, incite national and religious hatred. To involve young people in such activities, attackers most often use the Internet. Speaking about the dangers of the Internet, Roman Sidorenko, Senior Prosecutor at Special Assignments of the Office of the Prosecutor General’s Office, drew attention to another serious problem – the commission of serious and especially serious crimes by minors:

- Cases of production and distribution by minors of pornographic materials with their own image and transfer of photos and videos to third parties have increased. In the future, such materials can be used to extort and blackmail teenagers, involving them in the commission of serious crimes.

Teenage revenge on friends takes to a new level. Here’s how it works: a teenager joins a chat, whose participants are abroad, and asks virtual “friends” to report mining of socially significant objects in Belarus on behalf of his enemy. Roman Sidorenko commented on the situation: Children often naively believe that since they themselves do not report knowingly false information about mining, they do not commit any crime. That's not true. Such acts constitute incitement to commit a crime, and the perpetrator is criminally liable along with the perpetrators. The above situations show that it is extremely important for parents to know the circle of not only real, but also virtual communication of children.

Here are some instructive examples. The case of extremist groups in Mozyr, where minors rallied around Nazi ideology, carried out propaganda on Telegram and even attacked people. Teenagers from another cell who planned to commit a terrorist crime have already received their sentences of 10 to 15 years in prison.

Commenting on such cases, the official representative of the Investigative Committee Alexander Sukhodolsky listed the signs that should alert parents in the behavior of their child:

- Abrupt changes in the circle of contacts. The teenager may stop communicating with former friends or relatives. He has a new social circle, often online. The secrecy increases, the teenager deletes correspondence, changes passwords, hides the phone and gets annoyed when asked about new acquaintances. With regard to involvement in terrorist and extremist activities, there are still clear changes in attitudes, such as the depreciation of the lives of others.

gorbatenko@sb.by