The draft law "On Amending Laws on Criminal and Administrative Liability" was developed in furtherance of Decree No. 297 of September 25, 2023, "On the State Registration and Operation of Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles," to ensure national, public, and flight safety.
Minister of Transport and Communications Alexey Lyakhnovich spoke about the document's innovations:
- Article 13.36 has been added to the CAO, which addresses violations of requirements for the inspection of international postal items or goods. According to Decree No. 297, before delivery to individuals, they must be delivered by carriers to inspection sites for attachments containing signs of UAVs or aircraft models. Violation of this requirement will result in a fine for individual entrepreneurs and legal entities (up to 50% of the value of the subject of the administrative offense).
- Article 18.4 of the CAO has been supplemented with part four. This establishes liability for operating a civil aircraft that is not registered in the State Register of Civil Aircraft of Belarus, or without the documentation that must be on board the aircraft when performing flights, or operating a civil aircraft without having the right to do so.
- The new version of Article 18.35 of the CAO increases the fine for violating airspace regulations. This violation involves the use of civilian UAVs or aircraft models and is specifically addressed (it may result not only in a fine but also in confiscation of the subject of the administrative offense).
- The CAO is supplemented by Article 18.38 – administrative liability is established for violation of requirements for state registration and operation of civilian UAVs and aircraft models.
- The Criminal Code is being supplemented with an article on illegal actions against civilian UAVs and aircraft models. This article provides for liability for their import into Belarus, storage, circulation, operation, or manufacture, committed within one year of the imposition of an administrative penalty for the same violations.
