Protection of archeological objects and artefacts to be strengthened

The Edict of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 14 December 2015 No. 485 provides that archeological artefacts found in Belarus are to be transferred in the ownership of the state. According to provisions of the Edict all archeological field search may be carried out only on the basis of a permit to perform archeological research issued by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus to scientific organizations and museums on the name of individuals having respective archeological education and possessing respective practical skills in performing archeological field search, employed by such organizations or museums.

The Edict was officially published in Belarusian on the National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus on 17 December 2015, and its main provisions enter into force in three months after the official publication.