Belarus adopts bill to impose fines for content deemed to be "propaganda of same-sex relationships"

On March 13, 2026, the Chamber of Deputies of the National Assembly of Belarus adopted a bill amending a number of norms on administrative offenses in the second reading. The document includes a new Article 19.16, which punishes content deemed to be "propaganda of same-sex relationships, gender reassignment, childlessness, and pedophilia."

On March 13, 2026, the lower house of the Belarusian parliament adopted amendments to the law that list queer and trans identities and childlessness in the same article as pedophilia. According to the text of the article, "dissemination of information in any form" with the aim of creating the impression among citizens that "homosexual relationships, gender reassignment, childlessness are attractive" or that "pedophilia is permissible" is punishable. The law is still awaiting President Lukashenko's signature.

A fine of up to 20 base amounts is provided for individuals, up to 100 for individual entrepreneurs, and from 100 to 150 base amounts for legal entities.

If, according to the authorities, a minor has become acquainted with the information, the punishment increases sharply. A fine of 20 to 30 base amounts, community service or administrative arrest is provided for individuals. A fine of 100 to 150 base amounts is provided for individual entrepreneurs, and from 150 to 200 base amounts for legal entities.

Earlier, the Prosecutor General of Belarus Andrey Shved announced that the country would combat "same-sex relations, gender reassignment and voluntary childlessness." According to him, the concept of "LGBTI propaganda" will be understood as "any form of conveying [such information] to society on the Internet, in public speeches and publications."

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