Belarus E-Scooter Laws: Decree No. 295 Since Sept 2025 (2026)

This article is general information about e-scooter law in Belarus and is not legal advice. For a specific question, consult a Belarusian lawyer or the GAI (State Traffic Safety Inspectorate) directly. Information last verified on 23 July 2026.

Are e-scooters legal in Belarus?

Yes, nationally, under a codified framework. This article opened Belarus's own official announcement of Presidential Decree No. 295 directly on pravo.by, the national legal-information portal. The decree, signed 4-5 August 2025 by President Lukashenko, amends the Rules of the Road (ПДД) and took effect 1 September 2025.

The decree defines a "personal mobility device" (СПМ, personal'noe sredstvo mobil'nosti, SPM) as an electric-motor device with a maximum speed up to 25 km/h. That definition matters because it also draws the line for what falls outside it: a device that technically exceeds 25 km/h, or that is classed as a moped or motorcycle instead, is not covered by the light-SPM rules described below and instead needs GAI (State Traffic Safety Inspectorate) registration, an electronic passport, and vehicle-type confirmation, the same paperwork a moped or motorcycle owner would need. In effect, Belarus runs two tiers: a no-licence SPM tier for lighter, slower devices with defined caps, and a full moped-or-motorcycle registration tier for anything beyond it.

What counts as an e-scooter here

An SPM is defined by the decree as having an electric motor and a maximum speed up to 25 km/h. Devices over 35 kg are additionally barred from sidewalks, a weight-based cutoff layered on top of the speed-based SPM definition itself.

Where you can ride

The decree sets a two-tier speed cap depending on surface: 25 km/h on bike paths, and 10 km/h on sidewalks (only for devices at or under the 35 kg threshold; heavier devices cannot use sidewalks at all). Every rider, whether on a bicycle or a scooter, must dismount to cross a roadway rather than riding across it.

Rider rules

The primary decree text reached this session does not state a minimum rider age or a mandatory helmet requirement. Secondary Belarusian sources (consumer and auto outlets) reference a possible 2025 helmet mandate for higher-speed models, but describe it in prospective, uncertain terms rather than as a settled rule, so this article treats age and helmet status as unconfirmed rather than either present or absent.

For a device that exceeds the 25 km/h SPM threshold, the applicable rider requirements shift entirely to whatever governs mopeds or motorcycles in Belarus, registration, an electronic passport, and vehicle-type confirmation through the GAI, rather than the lighter SPM rules.

Penalties

This article did not confirm specific penalty amounts against the primary decree text this session. Secondary sources cite a fine range expressed in base units (reportedly 1 to 25 base units), but that figure was not verified against the decree itself, so it should be treated as reported rather than confirmed.

Enforcement in practice

This article did not independently confirm detailed enforcement statistics for the period since the decree took effect on 1 September 2025. A targeted GAI enforcement push following the new rules is a reasonable inference given the decree's own stated motivation, roughly 900 cyclist and scooter-rider accidents including 7 deaths over the prior two years, but this article found no independently confirmed seizure or fine-count data to cite.

Legal history and what may change

Decree No. 295 is a relatively recent, still-current change: signed in August 2025 and effective from 1 September 2025, explicitly framed by its own stated motivation (the accident and fatality figures above) as a safety response rather than a routine update. This article found no reporting of further pending amendments to the decree since it took effect.

For how Belarus's split SPM-versus-moped structure compares with neighboring countries' e-scooter frameworks, see the world e-scooter law guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to ride an e-scooter in Belarus?

Yes. Presidential Decree No. 295, effective 1 September 2025, defines and regulates e-scooters as "personal mobility devices" (SPM) nationally, with a 25 km/h cap on bike paths and a 10 km/h cap on sidewalks.

What is the speed limit for e-scooters in Belarus?

25 km/h on bike paths and 10 km/h on sidewalks, per Decree No. 295. Devices over 35 kg cannot use sidewalks at all.

Is there a minimum age or helmet requirement for e-scooters in Belarus?

The primary decree text reached this session does not state one. Secondary sources reference a possible helmet requirement for higher-speed models as a prospective point, not a confirmed rule, so this should be treated as unconfirmed.

What happens if my e-scooter goes faster than 25 km/h?

It falls outside the SPM definition entirely and is instead treated as a moped or motorcycle, requiring GAI (traffic police) registration, an electronic passport, and vehicle-type confirmation.

What are the penalties for breaking Belarus's e-scooter rules?

This article did not confirm specific penalty amounts against the primary decree text. Secondary sources cite a fine range in base units, but that figure is reported, not independently verified this session.