Illegal opinion polls to be fined

Carrying out opinion polls without accreditation will be punished with fines in Belarus.

Members of the “house of representatives” passed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences in the first reading. In particular, a new article will appear  in the code providing for responsibility for illegal opinion surveys, BelaPAN newsagency reports.

Under the draft law, carrying out surveys and publishing results of opinion polls relating to social and political situation in the country, republican referendums, presidential and parliamentary elections without the necessary accreditation will be punished with a fine of up to 20 basic units for individuals and 100 basic units for legal entities.

The same offence committed for the second time within a year after imposing an administrative punishment will be fined from 10 to 50 basic units for individuals and from 20 to 200 basic units for legal entities.