The Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Homyel has found the former head of the Rechytsa District Executive Committee guilty of abuse of power and official authority committed out of mercenary and other personal interest by an official holding a responsible position (Part 3 of Article 426 of the Criminal Code).
He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, fined 700 base units (31,500 Belarusian rubles), and banned from holding managerial and administrative positions for five years.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the head of the district executive committee bore personal responsibility for ensuring the effective operation of loss-making agricultural organizations.
“In violation of the written obligations he undertook to comply with the restrictions established by the Law of the Republic of Belarus ‘On Combating Corruption,’ from November 2012 to October 2022 he issued knowingly illegal instructions to managers and specialists of agro-industrial organizations and district enterprises, as well as to his deputy — the head of the agriculture and food department — to distort data in state statistical reporting under Form 12-ag (livestock) in order to conceal livestock deaths.
His unlawful actions caused significant harm to the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, as well as to state and public interests — at least 20 employees were held criminally liable for committing crimes against the interests of the service, undermining the authority and prestige of local government bodies,” the prosecutor’s office said.
The verdict has not yet entered into legal force and may be appealed or protested through appellate proceedings.