Alexander Lukashenko wants cardinal changes in fight against organized crime and corruption

Cardinal changes should be made in the fight against organized crime, corruption, economic offences, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting on enhancing defence capacity of the state, the rule of law and security in Belarus on March 18. According to the Head of State, reports on the operational situation in the country do not reflect the real state of affairs. “Ensuring high quality of the work of the whole law-enforcement system is the guarantee of ensuring constitutional guarantees of Belarusian citizens. Law and order have always been and remain the basis of any state. These are our guiding lines. Yet, I am concerned that in ensuring public security we have failed to solve the main task which is to reverse dangerous trends in the criminal situation and to achieve tangible results,” the President said. Alexander Lukashenko cited statistical data: since 2001 the criminal situation has been worsening in the country. For the past six years the crime rate per 100,000 people has increased by 70%; the number of crime victims has doubled; the number of the people killed or injured in crimes has exceeded 40,000. Under the period in review the repeat crimes has raised 2.3 times, domestic crimes almost 3.5 times, crimes under intoxication 2.3 times, juvenile delinquency by 30%. The President noted the weakening security of seniour and young citizens. According to him, the road accident rate remains high; the fight against illegal drugs turnover has become less efficient. The number of officially registered drug addicts increases by 800 people on average a year; 10,500 drug users are registered today with healthcare institutions. At the same time the drug-related crimes are reducing: in 2005 by more than 9%, in 2006 by 9% in 2007 by almost 14%. The Head of State said that the quality of investigation, procuracy supervision, observing law while bringing citizens to criminal responsibility needs to be improved. For example, 226 people were illegally brought to criminal responsibility in 2007. In 2007, a half of the crimes remained unsolved countrywide, including 52% in the Minsk oblast, 65% in Minsk. “Where is the principle of inevitability of punishment?” the President asked.