Brothel in Minsk, Belarus

Belarus penalises the person who sells sex: engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punishable by a fine of 6 to 20 base units, community work or administrative arrest, and a repeat within a year by 20 to 30 base units, community work or arrest (Article 19.5 of the 2021 Code of Administrative Offences). Buying sex is not an offence. Under Article 171 of the Criminal Code, organising or "using" another person's prostitution (deriving any benefit from it), knowingly providing premises for it for gain, or keeping a den for prostitution carries two to five years' restriction of liberty or three to five years' imprisonment with a fine; drawing a person into prostitution is punished under Article 171-1. The Law on Advertising prohibits advertising sexual services, including when presented as massage, relaxation or companionship. Source: Prostitution Laws (prostitutionlaws.org), https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belarus/, reviewed 2026-10-30, CC BY 4.0.