Belarus Introduces Sweeping Changes to Administrative Code, Including Anti-LGBTQ+ Provisions

Belarus has enacted significant amendments to its Code of Administrative Offenses, introducing controversial new regulations targeting LGBTQ+ expression and establishing penalties for a wide range of other activities. The changes, published today on the National Legal Internet Portal following President Alexander Lukashenko’s signing of Law No. 138-Z earlier this week, will take effect in two months.

Among the most contentious additions is Article 19.16, which prohibits the “Propaganda of Homosexual Relationships, Gender Transition, Childlessness, and Pedophilia.” The article forbids disseminating information that portrays homosexual relationships, gender transition, or childlessness as “attractive.” Violators face fines of up to 20 basic units for individuals, up to 100 basic units for entrepreneurs, and between 100 and 150 basic units for legal entities.

Penalties increase significantly when minors are exposed to such information, with fines ranging from 20 to 35 basic units for individuals, who may also face community service or administrative arrest. For businesses, fines increase to 100-150 basic units for individual entrepreneurs and 150-200 basic units for legal entities.

The amendments come amid a growing trend of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in several former Soviet republics, with Belarus following Russia’s lead in restricting what authorities term “non-traditional” relationships.

Animal welfare also features prominently in the revised code. Article 19.15 establishes fines between 1 and 15 basic units for violating rules on keeping companion animals, with higher penalties if harm results to people or property. Article 19.14 addresses animal cruelty specifically, with graduated penalties based on severity—ranging from fines for abandonment to potential administrative arrest for torture resulting in an animal’s death or injury.

Labor regulations see substantial updates as well. Article 10.12 now limits executive compensation by penalizing organizations that pay their leaders excessively compared to average employee salaries. It also imposes strict penalties on employers who allow staff to work without formal written contracts—a common practice in Belarus’s informal economy. First-time violations can result in fines up to 200 basic units for legal entities, while repeat offenders face penalties up to 300 basic units.

In the digital realm, Article 12.36 establishes new restrictions on transactions involving digital tokens, imposing fines between 20 and 100 basic units for prohibited digital asset activities. This comes as Belarus attempts to regulate cryptocurrency and blockchain technology amid their growing global adoption.

Foreign trade also faces tighter controls under Article 13.36, which penalizes violations of import and export restrictions with fines up to 20% of goods’ value, potentially impacting Belarus’s already restricted international commerce amid Western sanctions.

Telecommunications companies now face heightened scrutiny, with Article 23.1 establishing penalties up to 1,000 basic units for mobile operators failing to meet coverage and service quality requirements—a significant regulatory burden for an industry already struggling with infrastructure challenges.

The amendments introduce several provisions with national security implications, including Article 24.61, which penalizes unauthorized presence in security zones, and regulations prohibiting “Illegal Representation of the Republic of Belarus at International Events.” The latter provision appears designed to prevent unofficial delegations from representing Belarus abroad, with substantial fines for violations.

On a more lenient note, the Procedural-Executive Code adds provisions allowing for suspension of certain administrative penalties, particularly for drivers of tractors and self-propelled machinery, under specific conditions and with local authority approval.

The comprehensive overhaul also includes reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy, including provisions for electronic complaint submissions and options for resolving some cases without citizens’ personal appearances.

According to government officials, the revised code incorporates over 500 proposals submitted during the drafting process, affecting approximately 150 articles. While presented as a modernization of Belarus’s legal framework, critics argue that several provisions, particularly those targeting LGBTQ+ expression, represent a further tightening of civil liberties in a country already criticized for its human rights record.