By Ilona Krasutskaya: Speakers of both chambers of the Belarusian Parliament gathered today at the final meeting of the 4th session, which had been preceded by an exhibition by amateur photographer Vladimir Tsydik.
The MPs voted in favor of strengthening the criminal and administrative responsibility for poachers and ratified an intergovernmental agreement with Russia on readmission.
The three-month spring session resulted in a number of resonant bills. One of them regarding amnesty was personally initiated by the President on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Belarus' liberation. According to amendments to the health care law, Belarusian doctors now have the right to refuse carrying out abortions and violate patient confidentiality at the request of the military enlistment office. Many documents were developed taking into account future integration of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The upper chamber of the Belarusian Parliament amended the law on pension benefits. The country is home to more than 2.5 million pensioners, 1/4 of them are working. Under the new rules, to receive a pension, it will be necessary to pay insurance premiums to the social security fund for 10 years instead of 5. Belarus has also preserved early retirement.
The MPs considered more than 15 bills, with amendments introduced to the civil code, the laws on pricing, natural monopolies and State Control Committee activities.
The work on the bills will continue during the intersessional period. In particular, the parliamentarians will develop a document on tightening control and responsibility for drug trafficking and focus on a bill on the national budget for next year.
The 5th session will start on 2 October.
