Lukashenko expands powers of internal troops

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed a law providing for the expansion of the powers and tasks of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country. According to the bill, the Belarusian internal troops can guard the state border and participate in territorial defence.

The law also allows internal troops to participate in ensuring the security of protected persons and protected objects, in ensuring emergency and martial law regimes, as well as the legal regime in the area of the counter-terrorist operation, according to RIA Novosti.  

Internal troops can use combat and special equipment to suppress mass riots and group violations of public order. At the same time, the new law excludes the wording that the use of weapons is possible only if other methods and means of performing tasks have proved ineffective.