• Currently, the militsiya is essentially embedded in a militarized system that primarily protects the state, and only secondarily thinks about people. In a “citizen vs. system” conflict, it often sides with the system.

• The new law changes the very idea: the police are declared a security service for the people. Its main task is to protect human rights and freedoms, maintain public order, and provide assistance in dangerous situations. The law explicitly enshrines principles of the rule of law, transparency, and political neutrality, and prohibits using the police for power struggles.

• Clear rules for the use of force and special equipment are also established, including a ban on using them against peaceful, non-violent assemblies. In other words, it’s not just a change of name, but a change in purpose: from a punitive instrument to a public safety service for every Belarusian.

• Instead of many fragmented agencies, a simpler and more understandable system will be built around the police as the main body that works with people on the streets and in communities. Within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), a Police Department will be established, and certain current structures — such as the Investigative Committee, State Committee for Forensic Examinations, Security Department, and HUBAZiK — are planned to be dissolved, with their functions transferred to the police.

• The Border Committee will be reorganized into a Border Police within the MIA, the Migration Service will become a separate department, and prisons will move out from under the MIA to a civilian agency, such as the Ministry of Justice. Militarized units will be reformed into the National Guard.

• As a result, instead of a sprawling machine with many “security organs,” there will be a more streamlined system: police as a clear, citizen-facing service; separate structures for border and migration; a penitentiary system outside the MIA; and a National Guard for purely military tasks. This should reduce abuses and make law enforcement work more transparent and understandable to ordinary Belarusians.

• The new two-tier police system is linked to local self-government reform and is built around Hramadas and Pawets. At the basic level, police operate through community police commissariats and police stations.

• A Hramada is a local area: a city or a group of nearby villages and settlements. Each community will have its own police commissariat headed by a commissioner, and small stations may operate in smaller settlements under its supervision. In other words, the “local” police will be near the people, not somewhere far away in a district or region.

• At the regional level, police districts will be created, combining several Hramadas. They are headed by district police commissioners, who coordinate complex investigations and large tasks that a single Hramada cannot handle.

• Thus, the lower level is the police near one’s home, and the upper level provides support for serious cases. The system becomes clear: local police serve the community, while the district handles heavier-duty matters.

• Control over the police will be exercised at several levels.

• First, citizens themselves can appeal police actions. Initially, complaints go to the head of the relevant department, then to the court. Decisions of the director of the police department can also be appealed. Any police action is reviewed through a clear “superior — court” procedure.

• Second, the police will have an internal General Inspection, an independent unit that checks officers, investigates abuses, violations of law, and police ethics. If the inspector finds signs of a crime, the case is referred to the Prosecutor’s Office.

• Finally, there is external state oversight: parliamentary and governmental control, financial audits, and prosecutorial supervision. These ensure that the police operate within the law and budget, not according to anyone’s whim.

• The honest answer: the law is not a switch you flip overnight. The law on the police creates a framework, but people will feel the change only when the system and individual officers begin to operate differently.

• First, new rules must appear on paper: the police protect human rights, act politically neutral, are not used in power struggles, do not use force against peaceful assemblies, and are accountable for abuses. Then, training, recruitment, and evaluation of officers must align with these rules, and proper complaint procedures and oversight must be established.

• Belarusians will notice changes in everyday situations: when visiting a police station, they are treated respectfully, their rights are explained, and the officers do not pressure them just to fill a report. At peaceful events, the police ensure safety rather than disperse people. Complaints about misconduct are investigated, wrongdoers are punished, and results are published. Courts and the Ombudsman become real accountability mechanisms, not just decoration.

• This process will take years. Time is needed to change rules, leadership, habits, and culture. Without a new law and guarantees of independent oversight, such a shift is impossible. The new law makes the first mandatory step; further progress depends on both authorities and citizens: on how willing they are to demand, complain, and assert their right to a police service that serves people rather than oppresses them.

You can discuss the draft and propose amendments on several open platforms:

• on the website https://prastora.info

• in the SVAE mobile app (in the “Belarus Constitution Project” community)

• and on the Try Slany platform http://tryslany.com

On each platform, you can leave a comment on a specific article or provide general feedback — anonymously or under your name. All platforms protect personal data. Proposals collected from these resources are regularly gathered and forwarded to the Working Group for consideration.