Belarusian Parliament adopted the law about State Security Services, which gives new powers and guarantees to workers of secret services. (03-JULY-04)
The law about State Security Services was chosen among a dozen of draft laws to be adopted. It can be enforced by the autumn session, after the election to the Chamber of the Representatives. In this case the KGB receives the following powers to:
- burst into offices and private accommodations belonging to Belarusian citizens and organizations with receiving prosecutor´s sanction in 24-hours´ term after the route;
- take the same action towards accommodations of foreign citizens and organizations on suspicion of espionage;
- secretly collect information at organizations and firms while working as simple employees;
- claim punishment for those who reveals this secret work in public.
Times Change
The first variant of the law about state security was enforced in 1993. At that time the oppositional party Belarusian People´s Front was strong enough to block many of the law paragraphs that widened the KGB powers. However, this time only three deputies voted against the law.
The innovations that are being introduced this time legalize some practices of secret services. For instance, three years ago KGB routed the flat of Czech journalist Mikhal Plavec without sanction. After that, Plavec was deported from the country.
According to RFE/RL
