Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 19 September (BelTA) – Business will be given more freedom in Belarus, but it is needed to keep balance when it comes to responsibility for violations, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on 19 September when he heard out a report of Director of the National Center of Legislation and Legal Research Vadim Ipatov on the draft law concerning the introduction of amendments and addenda to the Administrative Violations Code and the Code of Execution Procedure on Administrative Violations, BelTA has learned.

The draft document aims to liberalize administrative legislation in the field of business. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that Belarus will be among leading states in this area.

“We give more freedom to our business. Businessmen will get unprecedented freedom and preferences for work. On the other hand, there will be tough responsibility for violations. We are not going to declare responsibility of economic operators, legal entities, craftsmen and others, and then pass another legal act to abolish it. We will not give ultimate freedom without responsibility. We need balance here,” the president warned.

The head of state said that representatives of the business community were complaining about exorbitant charges and other administrative penalties during the preparation of legal acts concerning business development. “You suggests significantly decreasing some of the charges,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.

The procedure of imposing administrative sanctions will be specified. “Let’s discuss this draft law which should be considered in the parliament. We promised to enforce these regulations by 1 October. Will we make it?” the president asked.

Vadim Ipatov said that the main objective of the draft law is to ensure balance in business. Administrative sanctions should be commensurate with violations, the payment of charges should not lead to the disposition of companies and restrain business. At the same time, administrative sanctions should guarantee economic security and business efficiency.