The Lukashenka regime is planning to organize a meeting of foreign diplomats with deported Ukrainian children on October, 4. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the meeting with children from Lisichansk and Severodonetsk is scheduled to take place in the so-called “places of residence, education, and health improvement.” These “meetings” are an effort to legitimize the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, which constitutes a war crime under international law. The illegal transfer of children from the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to Belarus is considered a war crime. The National Anti-Crisis Management team has collected and submitted evidence of this crime to the International Criminal Court. The international community, including EU countries, strongly condemns this unlawful deportation, and the ICC is currently assessing the evidence in the case. Presently, the Lukashenka regime is taking steps to cover up the crimes committed while simultaneously continuing its deceptive tactics in the information space. Meanwhile, the illegally transported children from the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories to Belarus are subjected to re-education, militarization, and Russification. In light of the propaganda “event,” the NAM team emphasizes the following: The NAM team has identified children who have become victims of war crimes committed by the Lukashenka regime, as well as those responsible for the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children. The children were unlawfully removed from the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, and organizing such “events” is an attempt to legitimize a war crime. The International Criminal Court is already examining war crimes related to the forced transfer of children. The international community, as well as EU countries, strongly condemn the deportation of Ukrainian children, and the Lukashenka regime’s involvement in war crimes is extensively covered by international and global media. Furthermore, the NAM team would like to pose the following questions to Lukashenka’s diplomats: On what grounds are orphans brought to Belarus? Have the competent authorities in Ukraine agreed to their transfer to Belarus? How do meetings with Belarusian military organizations contribute to the medical rehabilitation of children affected by war? The National Anti-Crisis Management team continues its efforts to hold the Lukashenka regime accountable for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The regime’s responsibility is inevitable.

What is happening with our ATM-exchanger-bank campaign and what can Belarusians expect from the Lukashenka regime in 2022? The National Anti-Crisis Management is launching a series of video publications dedicated to the "ATM-Exchanger-Bank" campaign, the real state of affairs in the country’s financial system and the risks to the financial security of Belarusians posed by the regional crisis and Lukashenka’s regime. In the first video, we will talk about the "Exchanger" — one of the 3 key components of our formula for economic protest and protection of our savings. — At the end of 2021, Belarusians became net sellers of foreign currency. Does this mean that we began to trust the state and "turned the page" in economic resistance to the Lukashenka regime? — Back to the "dashing 90s". What is happening with the purchase and sale of currency by Belarusians, is the regime ready to impose restrictions on foreign exchange transactions, and why is it better to spend only rubles on life today? — Are we ready to finance the plans of the dictator in conditions of military hysteria of the regime, the presence of foreign troops on our territory and the impending threat of a military conflict, into which the insane usurper is eager to draw our country? — Not a cent for Lukashenka’s crimes. What can every Belarusian do to keep their savings and at the same time deprive the regime of an internal source of currency? *We also recommend watching: Are you willing to pay for a mad dictator’s war? How US sanctions turned Lukashenka’s bonds into 'rubbish' How the Lukashenka regime is building a Third Reich in the economy

We must eliminate Russia’s offshore in Belarus As part of the anti-war movement against Putin and Lukashenko’s aggression against Ukraine, the NAM team initiated a campaign to suspend foreign companies and service providers in Belarus. Right now, foreign companies are leaving the Russian market in droves. The reason is the treacherous war against Ukraine launched by the Russian Federation. But Russia is not the only aggressor in this war. The fact of co-aggression by the Lukashenko regime has already been recorded by the international community. A huge resource from the Belarusian budget is being spent right now on the war with Ukraine, not on medicine, education, culture and social assistance. Nevertheless, similar sanctions have not yet been applied against the Lukashenko regime and numerous well-known global companies continue to operate in Belarus. The unevenness of the sanctions, the emergence of the 'Belarus offshore' and the continued operation of foreign companies in Belarus have left the Kremlin with an opportunity to evade sanctions and a source of funding for the war with Ukraine. And to the Lukashenko regime the resources to complicity in this war, to hold on to power and to continue the repression of the Belarusians. Yesterday our team sent the first batch of letters to the management of more than 30 companies, including Sony, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, British American Tobacco, Amazon, Seiko Epson Corporation, Apple and others. We urge the leadership of companies which have already given up their presence on the Russian market and stopped financing the Putin regime to take a similar measure with regard to the Belarusian market and stop financing the Lukashenko regime. If you are a representative of an organisation or structure representing the Belarusian democracies, or if your activities are related to opposition to the Lukashenko and Putin regimes and their unleashed military aggression against Ukraine — you can join our campaign and use a sample of our letter. Contacts of the companies

We share the first results of the NAM campaign "Not a cent for war!" Recall: on March 12, the NAM initiated this campaign as part of the anti-war movement of Belarusians. Our goal is to eliminate the "Belarusian offshore" and deprive Putin and Lukashenka regimes of resources to continue the war with Ukraine and the occupation of Belarus. Today we received a letter from Bosch, which informed us about the suspension of deliveries of its products to Belarus. The full text of the letter is attached to the publication. Also yesterday we sent the second batch of letters. The new mailing list includes 31 more foreign companies, including Siemens, Samsung, Nissan, Continental, KFC, Autodesk, and others. Important: every organization that sets as its goals opposition to the regimes of Putin and Lukashenka, ending the war with Ukraine and the occupation of Belarus can support our campaign and, together with us, call on foreign businesses to suspend their activities in the Belarusian market. Sample letter Company contacts Not a cent for the war! Not a cent for the occupation!

The British Foreign Office has responded to the NAM’s appeal by saying that the regimes that unleashed the war in Ukraine should be completely isolated on the world stage The NAM is continuing its campaign "Putin's puppet, Alexander Lukashenko, must be punished" by sending out an article of the same name published in the British weekly The New European to leaders and diplomats of the world’s leading powers and is already receiving feedback. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) thanked Pavel Latushka for the letter, and said: — The UK recognises Belarus' complicity in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and calls on it to stop supporting the military aggression; — the aggressors will be forced to feel the economic consequences of their criminal actions; — the UK has already imposed trade, financial and aviation sanctions against the Lukashenko regime, as well as sanctions on Lukashenko himself and over 100 other individuals and entities who have supported the war in Ukraine. — The UK acknowledges that the Lukashenko regime does not speak for the majority of the Belarusian people and condemns the ongoing repression of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Belarus. The response concludes with words of support for the extraordinary courage of the Belarusian opposition and civil society. Article "Putin's puppet, Alexander Lukashenko, must be punished" in world media: "The New European" (United Kingdom) "IL FOGLIO (Italy)

Iryna embraces her 13-year-old son Bohdan, who went to a Russian-organised summer camp from non-government controlled territories and was then taken to Russia, after he returned via the Ukraine-Belarus border, in Kyiv, Ukraine Original article: reuters.com Ukraine is investigating the alleged role of Belarus in the forced transfer of children from Russian-occupied territories, the office of the prosecutor general told Reuters on Tuesday. The announcement came in response to a report by the exiled Belarusian opposition alleging that 2,150 Ukrainian children, including orphans aged six to 15, were taken to so-called recreation camps and sanatoriums on Belarusian territory. The National Anti-Crisis Management, a group of political opponents to the government of President Alexander Lukashenko, said in its preliminary report that the children were taken to at least three locations in Belarus. Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin's office told Reuters it has launched criminal proceedings into "the forced transportation/deportation of over 19,000 children" from the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kharkiv, including to Belarus. "The fact and circumstances of taking Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the so-called 'recreational camps' in Belarus are currently under investigation in the mentioned criminal proceedings," it said. Reuters did not receive answers to questions sent to Lukashenko's office. In March, the International Criminal Court, the world's permanent war crimes tribunal, issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ombudsman for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, on two counts of war crimes for moving hundreds of Ukrainian children to Russia. Yulia Ioffe, an assistant professor at University College London and a specialist in children's rights law, said that if substantiated, Belarus would "highly likely" be violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child. "The actions of Belarus may also amount to the crime against humanity of ‘deportation of forcible transfer of population’ under the Rome Statute of the ICC, provided there is sufficient evidence of forcible transfers being widespread or systematic," Ioffe said. Belarus in any case cannot be considered a neutral country to where children could legally be evacuated because there is no indication Ukraine has granted consent, she said. The report asserts that Ukrainian children were taken to the Belarusian Golden SandsSanatorium in the Gomel region and the Ostroshitsky Gorodok Sanatorium and Dubrava camp in the Minsk region. The transfers of children to Belarus were illegal and in violation of the Geneva Conventions and the statute of the ICC, the report said. A first group of approximately 350 children arrived from the occupied Donetsk region on Sept. 5 and 6, followed by the second and third group in late September and mid-October, it said. Additional transfers were made in April and May of this year. The children were taken by bus to Russia from Russian-held territories of Ukraine and then by train to Belarus, it said. "Lukashenko personally ordered the transfers of orphans to Belarus and facilitated their arrival by financial and organisational support," it said, accusing him of war crimes.

World media on Lukashenka’s war crimes related to the illegal displacement and re-education of Ukrainian children In democratic countries, where freedom of speech and the press are fundamental principles of society, the role of the media is extremely significant. The media largely shape the socio-political agenda and play a crucial role in exposing crimes and unlawful actions of individuals. With the escalation of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the attention of the global community is focused on the Ukrainian people’s struggle against the aggressor, Russia. The National Anti-Crisis Management team has prepared a preliminary report and communication that provide evidence of the Lukashenka regime’s involvement in the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children. A non-confidential package of documents was provided to the editors of leading global media outlets, who sought comments from Pavel Latushka and representatives of the NAM team. Lukashenka’s crimes against Ukrainian children have gained global recognition, with the primary objectives of informing the public about these crimes being: Halting the displacement of Ukrainian children. Assisting in the safe return of Ukrainian children. Holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions. Over 100 comments were provided to both Western and Belarusian independent media outlets. Below are some key quotes from Western media on the issue: "Belaruskali is the firm that finances the deportation of Ukrainian children" Associated press After the AP publication, key American media also published articles about the crime of Lukashenka's regime related to the illegal movement of Ukrainian children. "The decision is signed personally by Lukashenko" The New York Times "Belaruskali is the firm that finances the deportation Ukrainian children" Washington Post "Belarus opposition group urges EU to maintain sanctions on Belarusian fertilizer producer" Fox news "Exclusive: Belarus abducts thousands of Ukrainian children" The Telegraph The Associated Press (AP) published an article on this matter, leading to subsequent articles in key American media publications such as US news, ABC News, The Economist, and Reuters. The topic also received attention from Western European media, with publications in the Swiss news agency Swissinfo, Spanish media, and Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. The involvement of the Lukashenka regime in these crimes also attracted significant attention in Poland, with comments being given to TVP Info, Polskie Radio 24, TVP World, TVN 24, TVP1, RMF FM, and Gazeta Codzienna. This media attention not only influences the regime’s agenda, forcing them to constantly justify themselves, but also makes it more difficult for Lukashenka’s regime to continue committing war crimes through the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children. Below are links to a number of publications: DW Deutsche Welle (article dated 21.04.2023) Детей из оккупированных украинских регионов незаконно перевозят не только в Россию, но и в Беларусь? Оппозиционный политик Павел Латушко собирает досье Лукашенко для Международного уголовного суда в Гааге. The New York Times (article dated 22.04.2023) Schools give patriotic lessons and teach students how to assemble rifles, while textbooks have been rewritten to favor Russia’s view of history. Factories produce uniforms for soldiers fighting Ukraine. Summer camps run by state-owned conglomerates host children from occupied Ukrainian territory. RU Delfi Литва (broadcast dated 24.04.2023) Ордер на орест Лукашенко про депортацию детей Gazeta Wyborcza (article dated 25.04.2023) Rosja wciąż uprowadza dzieci z Ukrainy. W sprawie pojawił się białoruski ślad Radio Białystok (article dated 08.05.2023) Narodowy Zarząd Antykryzysowy przygotował raport, na podstawie którego możemy wnioskować, że na dzień dzisiejszy reżim Łukaszenki i osobiście dyktator Łukaszenka popełnienia zbrodnie wojenne. Mamy informacje, że tylko w ubiegłym roku około 1500 ukraińskich dzieci zostało przewiezionych na terytorium Białorusi. Radio Wnet FM (article dated 09.05.2023) Według naszych danych ubiegłym roku na terytorium Białorusi zostało przemieszczono od 1150 do 1500 dzieci z Ukrainy. W tym roku już mamy dane, że do końca maja będzie kolejnych 1100. Stoi za tym bezpośrednio Łukaszenka. Polskie Radio 24 (article dated 09.05.2023) - Mamy dokumenty, które dowodzą roli Aleksandra Łukaszenki w zbrodniach wojennych przeciwko dzieciom nielegalnie wywożonym z Ukrainy. Przedstawimy je Międzynarodowemu Trybunałowi Karnemu w Hadze w celu wydania listu gończego za Łukaszenką - powiedział Paweł Łatuszka, b. ambasador Białorusi w Polsce. Polska Agencja Prasowa (article dated 09.05.2023) - Mamy dokumenty, które dowodzą roli Aleksandra Łukaszenki w zbrodniach wojennych przeciwko dzieciom nielegalnie wywożonym z Ukrainy. Przedstawimy je Międzynarodowemu Trybunałowi Karnemu w Hadze w celu wydania listu gończego za Łukaszenką - powiedział Paweł Łatuszka, b. ambasador Białorusi w Polsce. TVP info (video dated 10.05.2023) Times Radio (video dated 11.05.2023) Putin and Lukashenko's forces have kidnapped Ukrainian children and taken them to Belarus, opposition MP in exile Pavel Latushka tells #timesradio Tok FM (article dated 11.05.2023) Były minister kultury Białorusi, a obecnie jeden z najważniejszych przedstawicieli demokratycznej opozycji, Paweł Łatuszka zbiera informacje na temat nielegalnego wywożenia ukraińskich dzieci. Polskie Radio (article dated 16.05.2023) Заступник керівника Об'єднаного Перехідного Кабінету, керівник Народного Антикризового Управління Павел Латушка, колишній посол Білорусі в Польщі, представник білоруської опозиції у вівторок у Страсбурзі представив звіт, який свідчить про причетність білоруського режиму до незаконної депортації та перевиховання українських дітей Jedynka Polskie Radio (article dated 17.05.2023) Stały przedstawiciel Polski przy Unii Europejskiej Andrzej Sadoś poinformował ambasadorów pozostałych krajów unijnych o zaangażowaniu Białorusi w nielegalne deportacje dzieci z Ukrainy. Polska domaga się kolejnych sankcji wobec Białorusi. News Insight (article dated 17.05.2023) Andrzej Sados, Poland’s Permanent Representative to the EU, informed the ambassadors of the other 26 EU nations of Belarus’ complicity in the kidnapping and unauthorized deportation of Ukrainian children. Poland also demanded that the Belarussian government face EU sanctions. Sados said that the data came from a letter sent by Paviel Latuska, a representative of the opposition-led interim government in Belarus AP News (article dated 22.05.2023) Pavel Latushka, a former Belarusian minister of culture who is now in exile in Poland, said he feared the EU might be tempted to lift sanctions against Belaruskali, which is one of the world’s largest exporters of potash fertilizers. FoxNews (article dated 22.05.2023) Belarus opposition group urges EU to maintain sanctions on Belarusian fertilizer producer USNEWS (article dated 22.05.2023) Belarus Opposition Group Urges EU to Maintain Sanctions on Belarus State Companies Newsweek (article dated 23.05.2023) EURACTIV (article dated 23.05.2023) The Belarusian government has allegedly taken part in the illegal deportation of children from Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, exiled Belarusian opposition leaders said in a preliminary report. Reuters (article dated 23.05.2023) Ukraine investigating role of Belarus in transfers of children, prosecutor says ND Aktuell (article dated 26.05.2023) Seit September 2022 wurden 2150 ukrainische Kinder aus den von Russland besetzten Gebieten in sogenannte Gesundheitslager nach Belarus geschickt. Das geht aus einem vorläufigen Bericht hervor, den das National Anti Crisis Management (NAM), ein Zusammenschluss der belarussischen Opposition im Exil, vor Kurzem vorgestellt hat. ADC (article dated 12.06.2023) Anti-Discrimination Centre Memorial Brussels publishes the second report on the situation of children from Ukraine during the 2022-2023 war, the results of monitoring the situation as part of the #crossborderchildhoodua campaign. DW Deutsche Welle (article dated 20.06.2023) Юристы считают, что МУС может выдать ордер на арест белорусского правителя Лукашенко, как уже сделал это в отношении президента РФ Путина. Основание аналогично - участие в незаконной депортации украинских детей. AP News (article dated 28.06.2028) A Belarusian opposition activist says that he has provided the International Criminal Court with materials allegedly detailing President Alexander Lukashenko’s involvement in the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus, accusations angrily rejected by Minsk WNP Pl (article dated 28.06.2028) Białoruski opozycjonista Paweł Łatuszka poinformował, że przekazał Międzynarodowemu Trybunałowi Karnemu (MTK) w Hadze materiały o udziale reżimu Alaksandra Łukaszenki w wywożeniu na Białoruś dzieci z okupowanych przez Rosję terenów Ukrainy - podała w środę agencja AP. The Telegraf AP News (article dated 19.07.2023) Belarus Red Cross sparks outcry after its chief says it brought Ukrainian children to Belarus SwissInfo (article dated 19.07.2023) La oposición bielorrusa acusa al régimen de Lukashenko de deportar niños ucranianos Ultima Hora (article dated 19.07.2023) La oposición bielorrusa acusa al régimen de Lukashenko de deportar niños ucranianos Polskie Radio 24 (article dated 20.07.2023) Groźby wobec mnie to stałe wyzwanie począwszy od 2020 roku. Ale sygnały tego rodzaju są szczególnie ostre, po tym, jak zajęliśmy się przedstawianiem dowodów zbrodni wojennych popełnionych przez Alaksandra Łukaszenkę i jego współpracowników, związanych z nielegalnym wywozem ukraińskich dzieci - przekazał portalowi Polskiego Radia PolskieRadio24.pl białoruski opozycjonista, szef Narodowego Zarządu Antykryzysowego, Paweł Łatuszka.

A trail of evidence on social networks and state media detail Minsk’s role in a potential war crime Original article: foreignpolicy.com Belarusian Paralympic athlete Alexei Talai was waiting on the platform of Minsk’s main train station as a locomotive glided in and dozens of children from Ukraine’s besieged Donbas region spilled onto the platform, where they were greeted with a bunch of brightly colored balloons. According to reports in state media, their journey from eastern Ukraine to Belarus was organized by Talai’s charity with the personal backing of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, a man who has described himself as “Europe’s last dictator.” A broadcast on the state-owned City TV about the children’s arrival last September painted it as a feel-good humanitarian deed: The children surrounded Talai’s wheelchair, chanting “Thank you, thank you.” To international legal experts and U.S. government officials, it is potentially a war crime. Of all the atrocities that Russian forces have been accused of since the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year—a list that includes mass graves, torture, and the bombing of hospitals—the systematic deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and the territories it occupies was the subject of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a top advisor earlier this year. Ukrainian officials estimate that some 20,000 children have been taken to Russia in what researchers at Yale University have described as a systematic program for the forcible adoption and indoctrination of Ukraine’s children. While Russia’s role in the deportation of Ukrainian children has been well documented, details have only just begun to emerge of a similar operation in Belarus—details that could expose those involved, including Lukashenko, to war crimes charges. “I think anyone involved could be charged under the same theories,” said a senior U.S. government official, speaking on background under ground rules set by the Biden administration, noting that the deportation of civilians to Belarus followed a similar “fact pattern” as those to Russia. The arrival of groups of hundreds of children from eastern Ukraine to Belarus, where they are sent to large recreational camps, has been well documented in the country’s state media, which hews closely to the government’s line. But rights advocates and foreign governments are only just starting to grapple with what happens to the children from there. “Information about those camps is really in short supply,” said Wayne Jordash, a human rights lawyer who is assisting the Ukrainian government’s war crimes investigations. Parents themselves have been some of the best sources of information about the deportations, said Kateryna Rashevska, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer who is investigating Belarus’s role. As swaths of Ukrainian territory were liberated in a counteroffensive last year, stories began to emerge of desperate parents traveling to Russia in search of their children. But those taken to Belarus have come from regions that are still under Russian occupation and beyond the reach of investigators. Pavel Latushka, Belarus’s former minister of culture-turned-opposition figure, has the most detailed public accounting of deportations. By tracking posts on social networks, reports in the state media, and from its own sources, his organization, the National Anti-Crisis Management Group, found evidence that at least 2,100 Ukrainian children were taken to Belarus from occupied territories between September 2022 and May of this year. What they found was evidence of “systematically organized, [large] scale war crimes, led by Lukashenko personally and supported by some individuals and so-called NGOs,” he said in an interview. In June, Latushka handed over a dossier of information about his findings to the International Criminal Court (ICC). A spokesperson for the court declined to comment. When contacted for comment for this article, the charge d’affaires at the Belarusian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Pavel Shidlovsky, responded with a link to a news article in the Belarusian state media in which Lukashenko dismissed concerns about the deportations as “simply ridiculous” and suggested that Ukrainian children were being trafficked to the West to have their organs harvested. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The public face of the deportations is Talai, a Paralympic swimmer, motivational speaker, and strong supporter of the Belarusian regime. According to the website of his eponymous foundation, they began facilitating the transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus as early as August 2021, before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. The move was backed by a decree signed by Lukashenko, according to a statement by the presidential press service. Starting last September, reports of the deportations became more frequent. Among the facilities they have been dispatched to is Dubrava, a large children’s summer camp run by the state-owned fertilizer behemoth Belaruskali, which is already under sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department. The Talai foundation did not respond to a request for comment for this article. It can take investigators years to tie battlefield atrocities to senior commanders and a country’s leadership, but efforts to transfer Ukrainian children en masse out of the Donbas into Russia and Belarus have been carried out in plain sight and been widely documented on social networks, in the state media, and in remarks by top government officials in both countries, which is likely why it was the subject of the first ICC arrest warrants. The deportations to Belarus have been funded by the Union State, an economic and political union between Moscow and Minsk, according to statements by a senior official involved. In October, Dmitry Mezentsev, a Russian official who serves as the head of the union, visited the Dubrava camp. “We are participants in their future,” he said during the visit, according to a Russian government newspaper. The Union State had already given tens of millions of rubles to support Talai’s efforts and would continue doing so, he said. Social media posts by the Talai foundation and reports in the state media describe the children as being drawn from a variety of backgrounds: orphans, children with disabilities and those from impoverished families, and those living in children’s homes. Latushka’s team claims to have identified at least 50 orphans that were among the children taken to Belarus. The Geneva Conventions, which serve as the backbone of international humanitarian law, provide detailed provisions regarding the treatment and evacuation of children in wartime: Children are to be evacuated to a neutral third country if possible, and written consent by guardians must be secured when they can be found. The deportations to Russia and Belarus are a flagrant violation of those principles, experts say. “It’s difficult for Belarus to assert that it is a neutral country,” Jordash said, as Belarusian territory was used by the Russian military to launch the assault on Kyiv. In instances where parents have offered written consent, it’s difficult to argue that they have done so of their own free will. “Cities are under siege, and there is a lot of shelling. And when a man with a gun shows up at your house and offers to send your child to a summer camp, it’s hard to say no,” said Katya Pavlevych, a policy advisor on child deportations to the Ukrainian nonprofit Razom. Parents have sent their children to summer camps in Russia for a few weeks in the hopes of offering them some respite from the war without being told that the children would not be returned. The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit any efforts to change the identity or nationality of children evacuated from war zones. One of the most controversial aspects of Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children has been Moscow’s determination to indoctrinate them, erase their Ukrainian language and culture, and fast-track their Russian citizenship. The smattering of information about the fate of Ukrainian children in Belarus suggests that reeducation efforts may be underway. An Instagram post by the Talai foundation from last June showed a group of children from the Donbas visiting a unit of the Belarusian security forces that specializes in crowd control. The unit was involved in the violent repression of pro-democracy protests in 2020 after another fraudulent Belarusian election. In an interview last October with Sputnik, the international arm of Russian state media, the head of a Minsk region mining and oil trade union suggested that Ukrainian children from the mining regions of the Donbas were an ideal “target group” to be trained to work in Belarus’ mining industry. In an interview with Belarusian state TV, Olga Vokova, whose organization “Dolphins” is based in the unrecognized separatist Donetsk People’s Republic and has worked with Talai to bring children from the Donbas to Belarus, described children from newly occupied regions, such as Mariupol in southern Ukraine, as “pre-programmed” for evil. She said that they had to do “everything so as to melt their hearts and show them that we [people from the separatist regions] are not evil.” Rashevska, the Ukrainian human rights lawyer, said similar efforts were underway in Belarus, as in Russia, to quash their identities. “In these camps, the national identity of Ukrainian children is eradicated. These children are brainwashed, Russified, militarized,” she said.

On Saturday, September 2nd, Pavel Latushka gave an interview to Australia's ABC Radio National. On Saturday, September 2nd, Pavel Latushka gave an interview to Australia's ABC Radio National. The main focus was on issues related to the illegal relocation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories in Ukraine to Belarus, and Lukashenko's regime's responsibility for this war crime. The episode is available at: ABC Radio National Here are the main points from the interview: You have given the International Criminal Court evidence that you say shows Lukashenko agreed to the removal of Ukrainian children to Belarus, from Russian occupied cities in Ukraine. Can you tell us what is the evidence you have given to the ICC and how did you collect it? When preparing our submission to the ICC, the team of the National Anti-Crisis Management has reviewed and analysed different materials. Interestingly, Belarusian State media has covered the arrival of the children to Belarus quite extensively, and we have been able to analyze lots of publicly available news articles, photos, videos and social media posts, including some of the actors involved. We also rely on documents that have been passed on to us in confidence. These documents confirm that the transfers were organized and financed based on orders of Aliaksandr Lukashenko and other officials acting on behalf of the so-called Union State of Belarus and Russia. We even know that the decision to provide funding has been agreed upon by Lukashenko and Russian President Putin. The transfers were then implemented by the Foundation of the Belarusian Paralympic athlete Aliaksei Talay, known as a close confidant of Lukashenko, in cooperation with the local authorities in the occupied territories. How many children? And where are they being taken in Belarus? Between September 2022 and May 2023, at least 2,100 Ukrainian children aged 6 to 15, including orphans, were taken to a children’s camp called Dubrava, located in Minsk Region. This camp belongs to Belaruskali, a large State-run potash fertilizer producer placed under US and European sanctions. Overall, so far, we identified five camps and health facilities to which children from the Russian-occupied territories were brought. However, we know that the transfers of Ukrainian children had already begun before the Russian full-scale invasion, and the number of children is likely to be much higher. Lukashenko says it is a humanitarian act to remove the children from danger. What do you believe is the purpose? It is true that Lukashenko and other actors responsible for these transfers have repeatedly claimed that the children are brought to Belarus for “recreation”. We believe that this is a blatant lie. Instead, the children have been subjected to political re-education and pro-Kremlin propaganda, including meetings with Belarusian Youth and paramilitary organisations, orthodox priests and notorious propagandists. One of these sad examples is a concert of two Belarusian singers, the Gruzdev sisters, captured on video. While on stage at the Dubrava Camp, they say that they hope, and I quote, “that Biden dies, that Zelenskyy dies, too, and that Putin prospers and takes control of all of Ukraine”. For us, it is clear that the children are not brought to Belarus for humanitarian reasons. Do you know if the children are staying in Belarus, or leaving again? In general, the children stay between two and three weeks at the Dubrava Camp before they are returned to Ukraine. However, we also found evidence that unfortunately, orphans who had been brought to Belarus before 2022 were subsequently sent to Russia and were given up for adoption. What is the role of the National Anti-Crisis Management? As part of the Belarusian democratic movement, the National Anti-Crisis Management is determined to hold Aliaksandr Lukashenko and other members of his regime accountable for the countless crimes he committed. This includes the crimes against humanity committed as part of the brutal crackdown on the Belarusian society following the rigged elections since May 2020, but also accountability for his role as co-aggressor in the Russian re-invasion of Ukraine after February 2022 and his involvement in the unlawful displacement of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories. On this matter, we are also closely cooperating with the Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General, who has opened an investigation into the case. How does it work with the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus under the leadership of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya? On 9 August 2022 Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya established the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, in which I am the deputy head and responsible for the transit of power. This is the executive body of the democratic forces of Belarus, which should ensure the transition of Belarus to democracy. Lukashenko negotiated for Wagner fighters to move to Belarus. Now that Prigozhin is dead, who is commanding those fighters in Belarus? What is their role? Before his death Prigozhin appointed the person in charge of Wagner in Belarus. Therefore, most likely, formally he is in charge of them, but after Prigozhin's death, we understand that this private military company will cease to exist. Some of the fighters will sign contracts with the Ministry of Defence of Russia, some of them – with other PMCs in Africa, and some of them – possibly with the Ministry of Defence of Belarus. But as a unit – Wagner will be spread like butter on a piece of bread. Can you see a pathway back to democratic elections in Belarus in the near future? Democratic elections in Belarus will be possible only after Lukashenko's regime falls, everything else that this regime organises cannot be called elections. It is imitation and deception. Now three years old, can an opposition in exile stay together in the long term? Yes, it can. This is confirmed by the creation of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus in August 2022, which united the key structures of democratic forces. On 6 August 2023 the Conference of New Belarus took place, where representatives of many, we can say most of democratic structures, parties, initiatives gathered and adopted a number of political declarations and documents. Thus, it was the creation of such institutions as the Cabinet of Belarus that made it possible to maintain unity for such a long time.

Pavel Latushka on the regime’s policy towards children and youth Lukashenka and his accomplices have targeted schoolchildren and students, systematically depriving them of a happy childhood and future, while also eroding the identity and prospects of the Belarusian nation. On one hand, they attempt to mold Belarusian children into “Lukashenka’s patriots” and use them as human shields to maintain the dictator’s power and protect his family members. On the other hand, they forcefully impose and demand adherence to the ideals of the “Russian world.” During the meeting on preparations for the new academic year, law enforcement agencies and departments are present to report and receive instructions, emphasizing the need to enforce strict discipline and obedience among schoolchildren and students. The ideological indoctrination and brainwashing of young people are carried out by Karpenkov through the establishment of military-patriotic clubs. Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defense (yes, we have not mistaken, it is Russian indeed) has proposed the creation of a joint coordination council with the Belarusian Ministry of Defense to systematically work with youth, purportedly to counteract the information-psychological warfare conducted by the West. This proposal was announced by Viktor Goremykin, the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation and Head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, during his speech at the II International Anti-Fascist Congress in Minsk. This coordination council will include “professionals” in scientific and historical matters, as well as military experts with knowledge and practical experience. All these efforts are aimed at schoolchildren and students, specifically targeting Belarusian children. The question arises: What are they preparing our youth for? The answer is obvious: to participate in combat and military operations. However, Lukashists and supporters of the so-called Russian world do not hide this agenda. Why do they obsessively direct their corrupt intentions towards Belarusian children? Because there are still many of them: University students: 240,000 Vocational school students: 170,000 School students: 1,000,000 Including first-graders: 110,000 These figures were reported to the dictator, and he proudly announced them. In his power-inflated mind, a massive army has already emerged. “You must agree, this is an impressive figure for Belarus,” the dictator remarked. What proposals did the so-called Minister of Education suggest to improve the educational process? Andrei Ivanets stated, “The Ministry of Education, on behalf of the President, conducted a comprehensive audit of textbooks.” He also mentioned that, for the new academic year, the Ministry of Education and the Prosecutor General’s Office prepared three publications on the topic of the genocide of the Belarusian people during the Second World War. Lukashenka and his regime show no concern or empathy for our children. Therefore, propaganda and indoctrination are the primary methods of education for Belarusian schoolchildren and students. However, when it comes to his own son, the dictator employs an entirely different approach to education. He proudly announces that his son is simultaneously studying at Belarusian and Beijing universities, earning two diplomas, and will undergo an internship in biotechnology at the Russian educational center “Sirius.” As a parent, Lukashenka would never entertain the idea of his child wasting time on patriotic lessons glorifying himself or visiting military camps to protect his own interests. Instead, the dictator has awarded his son a scholarship bearing his own name. It is evident that Lukashenka recognizes the importance of every parent’s responsibility to care for and prioritize their own child’s well-being. Now, we face the question: Do we understand that the future of our children depends solely on us? Will they grow up as adherents to the ideology of violence and conformity, mere pawns voting for an eternal ruler? Or will they be Belarusians who possess their own perspectives, desiring to live in a free and open society where individuals are not mere cogs or tools, nor cannon fodder, but rather individuals who respect themselves and others?

The conflict that attracted attention between the deputy chairman of the regional branch of the Belaya Rus party, Svetlana Varianitsa, with Grigory Azarenok and Olga Bondareva, became the first vivid public manifestation of the confrontation between groups of the so-called elites of the Lukashenka regime. This telegram conflict has been going on for quite a long time, but apparently right now the activity of pro-Russian activists and pro-Russian influencers began to pose a threat to the existing system when these groups began to express opinions that went beyond the guidelines issued by Lukashenka’s administration. One of the reasons why this became possible is not only the destruction of Belarusian civil society but also the emergence in its place of a pro-Russian simulation of civil society. During his visit in June 2021 in Minsk, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said, ‘We must pay attention [...] to the activities of non-governmental and non-profit organizations [...] If we talk about Belarus, their ultimate goal is to change the system and power in your country. As a matter of fact, we have been observing this recently, and you, who live in Belarus, see it better than anyone else.’ Following Patrushev, Alexander Lukashenka in July 2021, speaking about non-governmental organizations, admitted that ‘a purge is underway.’ And already in December, he accused civil society agencies of foreign financing, an attempt to organize a coup and rebellion, and announced their liquidation. According to Lukashenka, including through civil society institutions, ‘The collective West is not abandoning attempts to reduce the level of integration interaction in Eurasia.’ According to human rights activists, more than 1,200 public organizations have been closed since 2020. At the same time, the illegitimate authorities, in contrast to genuine NGOs, create so-called GONGOs - non-governmental organizations that are actually created by the state. Examples of these GONGOs include the “Round Table of Democratic Forces” by Yuri Voskresensky and the “Systemic Human Rights Protection” by Dmitry Belyakov. The latter also established the Emil Chechko International Charitable Foundation, named after a Polish defector who made unsubstantiated allegations in state media about the crimes of the Polish military and border guards during the 2021 migration crisis. Many of these so-called GONGOs have joined forces and formed “patriotic forces.” On August 9, 2022, they held their first forum, and a year later, a meeting of the Headquarters of the Patriotic Forces of the Republic of Belarus took place. These self-proclaimed “patriotic” organizations have a distinct pro-Russian orientation, as evident from the declaration they adopted on August 9, 2023. The declaration states, “Belarus remains faithful to its obligations in the Union State, based on an understanding of the common path of the East Slavic peoples, despite all adversities and trials.” Special forms of interaction with the state are provided for the largest GONGOs, such as Belaya Rus, Belarusian Republican Youth Union, Belarusian Women’s Union, and Association of Veterans. In addition to the liquidation of independent NGOs, large Russian public associations and foundations financed by the Kremlin have become more active in Belarus. These include Rossotrudnichestvo, the Gorchakov Foundation, the Russian World Foundation, and the Support Fund for Compatriots. These activities coincide with the actions of state structures of the so-called “Union state.” Therefore, let’s have a look at the influencers and activists associated, directly or indirectly, with pro-Russian organizations. The roster of media personalities from regime TV who hold clearly pro-Russian views includes well-known figures like Grigory Azarenok, Evgeny Pustovoy, Ksenia Lebedeva, Alexander Shpakovsky, and Evgeny Lazutkin. At a lower level, several pro-Russian activists, such as Olga Bondareva, Elvira Mirsalimova, Svetlana Zhigimont, and Alexey Talai, promote imperial narratives through Telegram channels. While everyone is entitled to their own views, it is worth noting that these individuals have connections with various Russian media projects and organizations that advocate for deeper integration with Russia. For instance, Grigory Azarenok appears on the channel of Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, Ksenia Lebedeva provides comments to the chauvinistic website Tsargrad.tv, and Shpakovsky and Lazutkin have been involved in the Sonar-2050 project, which is financed by the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. Notably, Alexander Shpakovsky even attained a high position at the Belarusian Embassy in Russia, a position that would not have been possible without the consent of the Russian side. Olga Bondareva is associated with the “Infospetsnaz” movement, created by Dmitry Belyakov, an employee of the pseudo-human rights organization “Systemic Human Rights Protection.” Belyakov is known as the initiator of the pro-Russian party “United Fatherland.” Additionally, there are several anonymous Telegram channels that Olga Bondareva and Svetlana Zhigimont repost from on their own channels. It may be worthwhile to delve into the narratives of one of these channels in more detail. One target of criticism in this Telegram channel is the music band “Drozdy,” who are referred to as “woodpeckers.” They are accused of supporting democratic forces and are labeled as so-called “bechebeshniki” (supporters of the Belarusian national white-red-white flag) and “zmahary” (“scufflers”). This conflict would be easy to dismiss if it weren’t for one crucial aspect. By criticizing “Drozdy,” there is also criticism directed at the Lukashenka administration for coordinating the band’s participation in high-level events. Additionally, there is mild criticism of Igor Sergeenko, the head of the administration. Recent posts have emerged in which the authors attempt to create the impression that individuals with the last name Lukashenka are involved in the activities of mysterious groups. For example, in a photo from the “Vytoki” festival, where dictator Lukashenka’s son, Viktor, is in the center, they identify people whom they label as hidden “zmahary” (“scufflers”). In parallel, Olga Bondareva accuses Minister of Education Andrei Ivanets of promoting Nazism simply because he emphasized the importance of Belarusian-language education and stated that more attention should be given to the study of the Belarusian language. Bondareva perceives this as discrimination against the Russian language and a sign of Nazism. Interestingly, the group “Drozdy” fell out of favor after they began singing more songs in the Belarusian language and gained popularity among “yabatski” (Lukashenka’s devotees) on TikTok. It is noteworthy that this group of pro-Russian activists passionately praises the Belarusian GUBOPiK police special unit and the riot police, while also displaying fanaticism towards the Wagner PMC. Despite the efforts of propagandists to deny any divisions within their ranks, the split is evident. Another group has emerged among the Lukashenka’s devotees criticizing these pro-Russian activists. Their motivations do not seem to stem from genuine love for Belarus but rather from perceiving these activists as threats to the established Lukashenka system. So, who are these people? Igor Tur, who attempted a more conciliatory approach towards the protest community during a meeting with Lukashenka; Marat Markov, who refers to pro-Russian activists as “wombats”; and Ilya Begun, likely associated with the KGB of Belarus, are among the notable figures. Among the activists, Svetlana Varyanitsa stands out for posting clips of the group “Drozdy” on her channel and increasing the amount of Belarusian-language content, which irritates pro-Russian activists. Varyanitsa has already been labeled a hidden “bechebeshnik” (supporter of the Belarusian national white-red-white flag) by these activists. In 2020, when the Belarusian people chose democracy, activists like Varyanitsa and journalists like Tur believed they could gain favor by showing loyalty to the dictator, turning a blind eye to lies and violence, and assuming that everything would eventually return to the comfortable state of 2019, allowing them to flourish. However, various pro-Russian activists held a different perspective. They echoed the same slogans as Tur and Varyanitsa, but their intention was never to return Belarus to the state of 2019. Their goal is to incorporate Belarus into Russia, and they pursue this agenda cunningly, thoughtfully, and cynically, convincing the power-hungry Lukashenka that only they are his true supporters. Yet, neither of them comprehends that Belarusians are a nation capable of making their own choices and determining their future. Belarusians have the ability to find common ground among themselves. However, there is an obstacle preventing this unity—the dictator Lukashenka—and a significant threat to all of them: the Russian world, which denies the existence of Belarus.

Pavel Latushka participated in the panel discussion titled "Twilight of European authoritarianisms or a historical pause?" at the Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland Pavel Latushka participated in the panel discussion titled "Twilight of European authoritarianisms or a historical pause?" at the Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland. Below, you can read highlights of his speech: "Once upon a time, Milan Kundera's essay 'The Tragedy of Central Europe' played a crucial role in the struggle for freedom and independence of many European peoples. In the past, the European peoples were considered by Western European nations as not entirely European. However, when reading the first lines of the essay in 2022, one is reminded of the banal but repeatedly confirmed theses about the cyclical nature of history. In November 1956, as artillery fire was about to level his office, the director of the Hungarian News Agency sent a desperate message to the world via telex, announcing the start of the Russian invasion of Budapest. The message ended with the words: 'We will die for Hungary and for Europe.' Back then, did people in Berlin, Paris, or Rome truly understand the gravity of those words in 1956? I dare to suggest that the words of Ukrainians 'We are fighting for Europe here' are today in the capitals of Western European states in a similar manner today. How many decades did it take for Western Europe to recognize that Hungarians, Czechs, Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians, and other Central European and Baltic nations have the right to their own national democratic states? After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, several nation-states emerged, gaining independence as a result of internal processes within the Soviet empire. However, for some reason, Ukraine, Belarus, and I dare to suggest Moldova and Georgia, remained within the understanding of Western politicians as being within Russia's sphere of interests. Once upon a time, Hungary, Poland, and other Central European countries were also in the sphere of interests of the Soviet Union. In the 1990s, hardly anyone could challenge the right to exist of these nations and their nation-states. But, by default, Ukrainians and Belarusians were considered to be under greater influence from Moscow and the Kremlin than Poles and Czechs. Consequently, the attitude towards the emerging authoritarian system was equally tolerant. However, when there is a dictatorship in the heart of Europe, it becomes difficult to imagine that there will not be a temptation for some politicians in Europe itself to become more authoritarian. Essentially, Belarus is a gateway between Western democratic and Eastern authoritarian civilizations. It was only the awakening of Belarusian society in 2020 that partially shifted the situation, and instead of collaborating with the regime and turning a blind eye to the dictatorship, we witnessed deep concern from the West about violence and repression. 'Deep concern.' By the way, this statement does not irritate many Belarusians but rather elicits satirical laughter. Today's events are a result of some nations being denied the full exercise of their right to self-determination. Because even today, the capitals of Western Europe still think in imperial or, at the very least, Realpolitik terms. A free, independent, European, and democratic Belarus is a guarantee that Russia will no longer be able to carry out aggression not only against Ukraine but also against the EU, where Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia already stand as the first outposts. Ukraine can serve as a shield, and Belarus can finally close the gates to Russia's imperial ambitions, but to achieve this, it must be liberated from the dictator and Russian troops. Only then will there be fewer opportunities for authoritarian reconquest in Europe itself, as authoritarianism holds great allure for many politicians. Unfortunately, at present, I must state that only Russia has a strategy regarding Belarus. Their strategy is to incorporate Belarus and bring it into Russia. Meanwhile, we no longer hear words of deep concern from Western Europe, but rather silence. However, it was yesterday that we needed not only a strategy but a proactive strategy concerning Belarus. Today, we are witnessing the disappearance of a country called Belarus before the eyes of all of Europe, with its tacit consent."