Politics Lithuania requests international investigation against Belarus

Lithuania has applied to the International Criminal Court to investigate the leadership of Belarus for crimes against humanity. The autocratic leadership of President Alexander Lukashenko ordered violent deportations and persecutions, for example, according to the application published by the Criminal Court in The Hague. Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan promised to examine the application.

Belarus is not a member of this world criminal court. However, Lithuania is a state party and states that parts of these alleged crimes were committed on its territory. In this case, the Prosecutor would be authorized to investigate.

Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians were forcibly displaced and are now living in Lithuania or elsewhere in the EU, Lithuania said. The alleged crimes began in April 2020 and continue to this day.

Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The chief prosecutor is already investigating him. He had issued arrest warrants for Putin, his chief of staff, the former defense minister and the commissioner for children's rights.

SDA