The Belarusian leader on Thursday signed a bill introducing capital punishment for state officials and military personnel convicted of high treason,
DW reports.
The amendments to the country's criminal code endorsed by Alexander Lukashenko envisage death sentences for officials and servicemen deemed to have caused "irreparable damage" to Belarus' national security.
The new law is part of changes to the criminal code aimed at strengthening Belarus' fight against "crimes of an extremist (terrorist) and anti-state orientation."
The bill that Lukashenko signed also introduced punishment for "propaganda of terrorism, discrediting the armed forces and paramilitary units and breaching the rules to protect state secrets," mimicking the repressive legislation of Belarus' main ally, Russia.
Russia passed a similar law after it invaded Ukraine just over a year ago.
Belarus has not sent its own troops into Ukraine, but it allowed Russia to use its territory as a launchpad for its operation in February 2022 and has since let Russian warplanes and drones use its airspace for attacks on Ukraine. Russia has also maintained troops and weapons on Belarusian territory.
The endorsement of the new repressive legislation follows an attack on a Russian warplane at an air base outside the Belarusian capital on February 26, which was claimed by Belarusian guerrillas.
