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Lukashenka Case: How to Bring the Dictator and His Accomplices to Criminal Responsibility


The NAM team has compiled a comprehensive collection of crimes committed by Lukashenka's regime, forming a distinct "case." This document outlines the mechanisms for holding the dictator and his associates accountable for their actions in straightforward language

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Aliaksandr Ryhoravich Lukashenka Case

Trial: Former President of the Republic of Belarus from 20 July 1994 until 23 September 2020. Since 23 September 2020, he is an individual who exercises control over the Internal Troops, the Armed Forces, the State Security Committee (KGB), the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBOPiK), and the judicial system.

Charges: Mr. Aliaksandr Lukashenka is suspected of crimes against humanity in Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Additionally, he is implicated in the unlawful displacement of Ukrainian children as a war crime and the crime of aggression.

Crimes against Humanity

There has been an ongoing attack against the Belarusian civilian population since May 2020. The number of victims subjected to imprisonment, torture, murder, rape (including minors), enforced disappearance, persecution on political grounds, and deportations exceeds 136,000 people. More than 10 individuals have been killed, approximately 1,500 persons are imprisoned as political prisoners, over 35,000 people have been arbitrarily detained, and more than 100,000 Belarusians have been forced to flee the country following the elections.

Methods for Achieving Justice:

  • Referral of the Situation to the International Criminal Court by Other State Parties under Article 14 of the Rome Statute, particularly regarding the crime of deportation and potential persecution.

  • Establishment of a Special International Criminal Tribunal for Crimes Against Humanity in Belarus, with jurisdiction over all crimes against humanity committed.

  • Implementation of universal jurisdiction mechanisms.

  • Application by a State or group of States initiating proceedings against Belarus before the International Court of Justice for violating the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Deportations of Migrants

Lukashenka deliberately seeks to destabilize Europe by luring migrants into Belarus and forcibly sending them to the EU border, weaponizing them and creating an artificial migration crisis. At least 12,000 migrants have fallen victim to this campaign.

Through the use of physical force, threats of force, or the creation of inhumane living conditions in the "exclusion zone" at the border, Lukashenka's actions, alongside his accomplices, may constitute forced expulsions and qualify as deportations under Article 7(1)(d) of the Rome Statute.

Methods for Achieving Justice:

  • Referral of the Situation to the International Criminal Court by Other State Parties under Article 14 of the Rome Statute.

  • Establishment of a Special International Criminal Tribunal for Crimes Against Humanity in Belarus.

  • Implementation of universal jurisdiction mechanisms.

War Crimes

Between September 2022 and May 2023, over 2,100 children aged 6 to 15 were brought from Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to so-called recreation camps and sanatoriums in Belarus, particularly the Dubrava Camp (Minsk Region), under Lukashenka's orders.

The unlawful displacement of the civilian population constitutes a war crime under Article 8(2)(a)(vii) of the Rome Statute.

Methods for Achieving Justice:

Submission of all evidence regarding these crimes to the International Criminal Court, which holds jurisdiction over the situation in Ukraine.

Crime of Aggression

Lukashenka facilitated the use of Belarusian territory for the ground invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine. Furthermore, Russian military aviation utilized Belarusian territory for missile attacks, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Ukrainian civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure necessary for the survival of the civilian population.

NB! The victims of this crime encompass not only all civilians who perished due to attacks originating from Belarusian territory but also combatants who died defending their country.

Methods for Achieving Justice:

Establishment of a Special International Criminal Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, with jurisdiction over the higher military and political leadership of the Lukashenka regime.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Martin Luther King Jr.

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