National Bank of Belarus to Take Political Loyalty Into Account During Certification

The National Bank of Belarus, by Resolution No. 370 of its Board dated December 20, has amended the instruction on the procedure for assessing compliance with qualification requirements and business reputation requirements, as well as on certification and special certification. The document was published today on the National Legal Internet Portal.

According to the resolution, actions discrediting business reputation will be understood to include:

• participation in unauthorized mass events, violation of the established procedure for holding assemblies, rallies, street marches, demonstrations, pickets, or other mass events, as well as public calls to organize or hold such events in violation of the established procedure for their organization or conduct;
• participation in any form of activity aimed at discrediting the Republic of Belarus, state authorities and administrative bodies (including personal participation, mediation, or cooperation through the provision of services, registration in extremist formations, dissemination of information products included in the national list of extremist materials, as well as the production, publication, storage, or transportation for the purpose of dissemination of such information products).

Information on such actions must be confirmed by a state body authorized to carry out measures to prevent and identify threats to national security. It should be noted that in Belarus, extremism charges are often used to fight opponents of the authorities.

Accordingly, the availability to the National Bank of information on “facts of the emergence of a threat of causing or the causing by a candidate of harm to the national security of the state,” as well as on “the commission by a candidate of actions discrediting his business reputation,” will constitute grounds for revoking certificates.