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Belarus

Belarus acceded to the Convention on 3 September 2003, with the Convention entering into force for Belarus on 1 March 2004.

Obligations under the Convention

In its initial transparency report submitted on 23 June 2004, Belarus reported stockpiled anti-personnel mines under its ownership or possession.

Notwithstanding the obligation to destroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines, the Convention permits the retention of the minimum number of anti-personnel mines absolutely necessary for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques.

As of 2020, Belarus reported having retained 4,505 anti-personnel mines for these permitted purposes. 

On 1 March 2008, Belarus’ deadline for the destruction of its stockpiled anti-personnel mines passed. 

On 29 December 2014, Belarus provided information in response to its commitment under Action 5 of the Maputo Action Plan to provide a plan for the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines under its jurisdiction or control.

Belarus noted the technical complexity associated with destroying the PFM type mine, that 3,370,316 mines remained to be destroyed and that all mines, apart from those considered to be in an unsafe condition, were to be destroyed by 1 November 2016.

On 5 April 2017, Belarus reported that it had completed the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines (pdf file).

In total, Belarus reported having destroyed 3.4 million 'PFM-1' anti-personnel mines. 

Declaration of Completion

Belarus has not reported any areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be emplaced.

Annually and no later than 30 April, each State Party is to update information covering the previous calendar year. The latest Article 7 reports for this State Party can be found on this page.

Each State Party is to take all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures, including the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control.

Belarus has reported having established national implementation measures or that it considers existing legislation to be sufficient. 

Belarus destroys over three million stockpiled mines under strictest environmental standards

Belarus has announced that it has destroyed 3.4 million ‘PFM-1’ anti-personnel mines, with the last 78 destroyed during a symbolic ceremony at a military base near the city of Rechitsa in the Gomel region.

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