3. Law enforcement and justice system

3.1. Security apparatus

The law enforcement in Belarus is characterised by a high degree of centralisation, with its main bodies controlled by the presidency.287 It consists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which manages the national police and the ministry’s internal troops to ensure public security,288 the KGB, tasked with the implementation of national state security policy and coordination of state security agencies,289 the Investigative Committee, composed of state law enforcement agencies responsible for preliminary investigations and pretrial proceedings,290 and the Prosecutor General's Office, which also conducts preliminary investigation.291 Both the KGB and the Special Purpose Police Units (OMON) monitor political opposition groups, as well as the business community, and foreigners.292

Law enforcement in Belarus is instrumental in intimidation of members of political opposition and government critics,293 conducting raids, mass arrests, and detentions.294 Since 2020, security forces – including the KGB and the Main Directorate for Combating Organised Crime and Corruption (HUBAZiK/GUBOPiK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – have used threats, intimidation, and violence during arrests, even when encountering no resistance. Furthermore, arrests were frequently conducted by men in plainclothes using unmarked vehicles, who often neither identified themselves nor presented warrants.295 There is no accountability296 or state oversight mechanisms to address human rights violations.297