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Ukraine Considers Criminal Case Against Belarus President Lukashenko
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Elections & Politics

Ukraine Considers Criminal Case Against Belarus President Lukashenko

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Ukraine is considering opening a criminal case against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
  • The Ukrainian presidential office asked the Prosecutor General to assess the possibility of initiating proceedings against Lukashenko.
  • The move follows a request from the Belarusian democratic forum in exile, which accuses Lukashenko of complicity in Russia's war and forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

Ukraine is taking steps to potentially open a criminal case against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, marking a significant diplomatic and legal maneuver. The Ukrainian presidential office has formally requested Prosecutor General Ruslan Ryaboshapka to evaluate the feasibility of initiating criminal proceedings against the Belarusian leader.

appropriate actions would be taken if legal grounds exist.

— Oleh TatarovDeputy head of the President's Office, informing the Belarusian democratic forum about the forwarded appeal.

This action stems from a plea submitted in May by the Belarusian democratic forum, an opposition group operating in exile. The forum urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hold Lukashenko accountable for alleged war crimes, genocide, and state terrorism. Specifically, they accuse him of aiding Russia's war against Ukraine and facilitating the forced deportation of at least 2,442 Ukrainian children to Belarus, a program documented by Yale University's Human Rights Lab.

significantly increase the personal legal and security risks he faces

— Dmitry BolkunetsSecretary general of the Belarusian democratic forum, describing the potential impact of prosecuting Lukashenko.

On July 28, Oleh Tatarov, deputy head of the President's Office, informed the forum that their appeal had been forwarded to the prosecutor's office. He stated that appropriate actions would be taken if legal grounds exist. While Lukashenko is unlikely to face a Ukrainian court soon, any charges would carry symbolic weight. These accusations could empower the Ukrainian and Belarusian opposition, potentially increasing pressure on Western nations to impose stricter sanctions, even as Lukashenko reportedly negotiates with the U.S. for sanctions relief in exchange for releasing political prisoners.

It can have a big impact in Belarus, as Lukashenko will take it very personally and be seriously concerned about the consequences.

— Dmitry BolkunetsSecretary general of the Belarusian democratic forum, speaking to Reuters about Lukashenko's likely reaction.

Dmitry Bolkunets, secretary general of the Belarusian democratic forum, told Reuters that prosecuting Lukashenko would "significantly increase the personal legal and security risks he faces" and represent an act of historical justice. He believes Lukashenko will take such a development very personally, causing him serious concern about the consequences. Earlier, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya mentioned that two cases against Lukashenko were already being considered by the International Criminal Court, one concerning crimes against humanity and complicity in deporting Ukrainian children.

The first is for crimes against humanity and complicity in the deportation of Ukrainian children.

— Sviatlana TsikhanouskayaBelarusian opposition leader, referring to cases being considered by the International Criminal Court.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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