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Belarus Criminal Code (1999): ecocide

Belarus
Approved in 1999
National
Legislation
Eco-Governance System
Environment
All Nature
National Legislature
Government

Summary

In 1999, Belarus added ecocide to its criminal code of 1997. Article 131 states that “mass destruction of flora or fauna, poisoning the atmosphere, land or water resources, as well as the commission of other acts which caused or are capable of causing an ecological catastrophe, shall be punished by imprisonment for a period from ten to fifteen years.” Ecocide is still criminalized in Belarus.

Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2026. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/criminal-code-belarus/.

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Legal Document

Criminal Code Belarus
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Additional Resources

Book citation noting that Belarus's criminal code was created in 1997 but the amendment recognizing ecocide was added in 1999.
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