Lithuania has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged crimes against humanity by the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, including forced deportations, persecution of opposition supporters and inhumane treatment.
The decision to involve the ICC followed a comprehensive review of evidence from Belarusian opposition groups and other sources.
“Impunity can no longer continue, and justice must be done. Lithuania has taken the first step, but we urge others to join us in what is essential for justice to prevail,” said Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska.
Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who has lived in Vilnius since 2020, has backed Lithuania’s move.
“The crimes committed by this regime, from forced deportations to illegal arrests and torture, cannot go unpunished. Lithuania’s courage gives us hope that the world is finally holding the regime accountable for its atrocities,” Tsikhanouskaya said in a statement on X.
Tsikhanouskaya also highlighted the human toll of Lukashenko’s regime, with some 300,000 Belarusians forced to flee since the 2020 election crackdown and one in 30 Belarusians now living in exile.
Lithuania’s action builds on its previous legal efforts in referring the situation in Ukraine to the ICC, which led to an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We made a move requesting the ICC to investigate the situation in Belarus, and we expect an arrest warrant for Lukashenko,” Dobrowolska added.
Deputy Justice Minister Gabija Grigaitė-Daugirdė stressed the need for accountability, insisting that Belarus’s top leadership, “from President Lukashenko on down”, must face justice for the atrocities that have driven thousands to Europe.
With over 60,000 Belarusians now seeking refuge in Lithuania, the government’s move to involve the ICC underscores its firm stance on defending democracy and human rights.
However, Lithuania, like neighbouring Poland, is also grappling with a surge of migrants from Africa and the Middle East, who claim that Belarus, under Lukashenko, is aiding Russian President Putin in a broader strategy of hybrid warfare against EU states.
By taking legal action against Belarus at the ICC, Lithuania not only seeks justice for Belarusian opposition victims but also aims to address growing regional security concerns linked to Lukashenko’s regime.
(Jeremias Lin | Euractiv.com)
Source: euractiv.com
