Results of work in the legal direction:
On October 2, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court initiated a preliminary investigation into the "Belarusian situation," which is the result of the work of the NAM, which prepared materials for submission to the authorities of Lithuania. The Lithuanian government made a referral to the International Criminal Court. The international judicial system began its work on crimes against Belarusians — and this is an important result of our efforts.
The work carried out makes it possible to expect that one of the OSCE mechanisms for monitoring crimes in Belarus may be launched as early as the beginning of 2025.
The results of the current year also allow us to expect that in 2025 a case will be initiated against the Lukashenko regime in the International Court of Justice, enabling him to be held accountable.
In Warsaw, the NAM organized a side event within the framework of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference on the topic “Mobilizing the OSCE Moscow Mechanism to Examine the Forced Displacement of Belarusians and Their Extraterritorial Persecution.” The event aimed to draw the widest possible international attention to the crimes of Lukashenko's regime against Belarusians.
On December 2, in The Hague, for the first time, Lukashenko's crimes addressed at the ICC Assembly of States Parties, a specially organized event was held dedicated to the prospects of addressing the "Belarusian situation" at the ICC: "The Belarus Situation at the ICC: ICC Jurisdiction and the Need for State Party Support."
On September 4, the Polish National Prosecutor's Office issued a decision to arrest three Belarusian citizens suspected of committing a crime related to the hijacking of the Ryanair civilian aircraft: former director of the state enterprise "Belaeronavigatsia" Leonid Churo, shift supervisor in the air traffic control service Yauhen Tsyhanau, and a high-ranking KGB officer whose name is also known.
Results of work in the area of sanctions pressure:
In 2024, the National Anti-Crisis Management initiated and prepared justifications for the adoption of a series of international sanctions and restrictive measures against Lukashenko's regime and its allies.
Sanctions against Alexander Lukashenka’s personal aircraft. On August 9, the proposals and justifications from the NAM team were reflected in the U.S. sanctions against the dictator's primary aircraft — a Boeing 767. This marked the completion of our efforts to impose sanctions on all of Lukashenko's aircraft. Today, four airplanes and one helicopter belonging to the dictator are under sanctions.
Harmonization of sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime and Russia. The NAM repeatedly proposed coordinated measures, and these proposals were taken into account in the EU Council’s decision of June 29, 2024. This decision eliminates the regime's ability to profit from circumventing restrictions applied to Russia’s military-industrial complex.
Restricting the transit of sanctioned goods through Belarus. The NAM documented abuses of transit schemes used by the regime to circumvent sanctions. Our evidence was reflected in the legal provisions enshrined in the EU Council’s decision of June 29, 2024, which significantly complicated the use of "false" transit routes.
Sanctions against the Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia (SPFS). Our justification for the necessity of sanctions against SPFS — a system used to circumvent imposed financial sanctions and facilitate payments for sanctioned goods essential to Russia's military-industrial complex for aggression — was considered in the EU’s 14th sanctions package against Russia on June 24, 2024.
EU sanctions against individual representatives of the regime:
Based on dossiers prepared and submitted by the NAM team, the European Union imposed sanctions against:
24 regime judges,
10 employees of the penitentiary system,
3 leading propagandists.
Additional sanctions adopted by EU allies based on proposals from the NAM and other democratic initiatives:
United States (August 9): Sanctions against military-industrial complex enterprises and their leaders.
Canada (August 9): Sanctions against judges, military personnel of the regime, and military-industrial complex enterprises.
United Kingdom (October 3): Sanctions against CJSC "Alfa-Bank."
New Zealand (September 24): Sanctions against the head of the Belarusian Red Cross Society, "BelOMO," and the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant.
In addition, thanks to our initiatives, the EU, the US, and Canada imposed sanctions on Alyaksei Talai and his foundation, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM), the head of this organization, Alyaksandr Lukyanau, as well as the State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, Dmitry Mezentsev. All of them are involved in the war crime of the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to the territory of Belarus.
On September 8, 2024, the NAM submitted materials to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Poland for the introduction of national sanctions against 20 security officers and 26 propagandists of Lukashenko's regime for waging a migration war.
Results of the work of the Free Belarus Museum — a project of the NAM:
In 2024, the project of the National Anti-Crisis Management team — the Free Belarus Museum — continued its activities. It is located at Foksal 11, Warsaw.
More than 150 cultural and educational events were held, with over 8,500 participants.
The museum's collection exceeded 300 original exhibits from the recent history of the Belarusian protest movement.
For the first time, exhibitions from the museum's own collection were held — the photo project by Syarhei and Dzmitryi Brushko, "REVISION 30," and "Unyielding Voices," a project dedicated to the role of women in the Belarusian democratic movement.
The first Catalogue of Artifacts of the Free Belarus Museum was published.
The museum's international connections have strengthened: partnerships have been established with representatives from the embassies of over 20 countries, as well as the Sejm, Senate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland, and the Warsaw City Hall.
The NAM and the Free Belarus Museum successfully raised over €2,300 in sponsorship funds and published a book by one of the well-known Belarusian authors currently living abroad. Additionally, €12,250 was raised for the production of a play by the "Free Kupalaucy" theater troupe, with preparations for the performance beginning in December of this year.
Results of the "Personnel Reserve" project:
Two educational visits were organized, allowing participants to learn about the work of the public administration in Lithuania and European institutions in Belgium.
10 works with concepts for future reforms in Belarus were written by participants of the campaign.
The discussion of 6 concepts for future reforms in Belarus, proposed by invited experts, attracted over 680 comments from campaign participants.
A Personnel Matrix has been created — a space where campaign participants can indicate the positions they envision for themselves in the New Belarus.
An online meeting titled "The Path to Democracy: Proposals and Opportunities" was held for participants of the "Personnel Reserve" with representatives of democratic forces.
7 video interviews with participants of the "Personnel Reserve" campaign about their vision for reforms in the New Belarus.
Two cycles of online lectures were held: one with the participation of Lithuanian political and public figures, and the other, a lecture series titled "Special Course: The Path to a Democratic Belarus," featuring prominent Belarusian scholars and analysts.
As of the end of the year, the Personnel Reserve includes 700 participants, 30% of whom are located in Belarus.
Additionally:
The NAM team provided financial support to the Belarusian Association of Political Prisoners "To Freedom" in the amount of approximately 2,500 PLN.
NAM members Pavel Latushka and Uladzimir Astapenka continue to support the diplomatic course "New Personnel for the New Belarus" within the framework of the project by the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw. During the implementation of the program, 74 graduates have received diplomas.
A strategy for the democratic forces regarding the fake elections of 2025 has been developed and adopted. Additionally, events on the topic of power transition were held: "Ways to Exit the Political Crisis in Belarus, Based on the Example of the Polish Round Table" and "From the Union State to Power Transition." Within the framework of the latter, a foundational document on power transition in Belarus was developed.
In cooperation with the Belarusian Association of Political Prisoners "To Freedom," within the framework of the "Zemlya" project, support was provided in obtaining 126 visas, including 117 humanitarian visas for Belarusians persecuted by Lukashenko's regime.
Representatives of the NAM became participants in the working group on issues related to the stay of Belarusian citizens in Poland, established between the Ministry of the Interior of Poland and representatives of Belarusian democratic forces. They also participated in the working group on cooperation with non-governmental organizations, founded by Poland's Intergovernmental Working Group on Migration Issues.
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