Belarus strips citizens of home security

[mendeleyev]

From today's Mendeleyev Journal:

Laws in Belarus are passed differently than in most countries around the world. Instead of most legislation beginning in parliament and then going to the president for signature, Belarus does it backward. In some ways that is the story of the Belorussian dictator--backward.

In Belarus, most legislation starts at the presidential level and is forwarded to a rubber stamp parliament where it is approved and then sent back to the dictator for his signature.

Friday, 22 June the "Council of the Republic" approved draft law "on State security establishments of the Republic of Belarus". This one should make Belarus Chairman of the KGB of Belarus Vadzim Zaitsau very happy as it removed yet another obstacle in bullying the citizens of Belarus.

Today the text of the document has been published on the website of the national legal Portal. Belarus security forces may "enter freely, if necessary with anti-locking devices and other items at any time of the day in the accommodation or other legal ownership of natural persons."

Translation: the KGB may break into any home, business, or any other place they need. The bill also gives the KGB permission to enter, forcefully if needed, into premises and other facilities of State bodies and organizations.

The only exceptions are premises and facilities of diplomatic, consular and other representatives of foreign States, international organizations, subject to diplomatic immunity, and premises inhabited by employees of these offices, organizations and their families.

Security officers are not liable for the harm caused by physical force, special equipment, weapons, military and special equipment, if their actions were "justified by professional risk or extreme necessity."

Sadly this has been going on for a long time. Friday's law just codified what is already the norm.