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The NAM press secretary and foreign policy adviser Artem Brukhan: "The position of Switzerland does not stand up to criticism" — The lawsuit filed by lawyer Tomasz Wilinski against Lukashenka at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the fact of torture and murder of peaceful protesters is a precedent. — The package of documents, which already now amounts to more than 40,000 pages, will be replenished, and the prosecutor can initiate a criminal case at any time, which creates pressure on the regime and increases its toxicity. — Despite the fact that Belarus has not signed the Rome Statute, all the materials of the case will sooner or later be used to bring the perpetrators to justice. — In democratic countries, nothing is decided at the snap of a finger, and legal procedures take time. In addition, this is a matter of political pressure and the interest of Western partners. — The NAM received an official response from the State Secretary of the Swiss Foreign Ministry regarding the planned presentation of credentials: the position of Switzerland does not stand up to criticism.

— The territory of Belarus could be used for aggression against Ukraine. — The evacuation of diplomats from Kiev is a bad sign, although it could be a simple overreaction. — Russian diplomats make knowingly impossible demands to provoke their opponents. — The outcome of negotiations between Russia and the West. None of the parties is interested in an endless escalation of the conflict, its consequences have already been felt by Russia and by the Belarusians too. — Are Russian troops in Belarus an occupation? Belarus has been turning into a dysfunctional state over the past year and a half. Inability to control the borders, non-compliance with international law, lack of legitimacy — objectively, the regime is losing the levers of governing the country. — The West consolidated itself as a result of the conflict with Russia, but the conflict itself rather hinders the collective search for a solution to the Belarusian crisis. — Lukashenka keeps talking about the war in order to shift attention away from the situation inside the country. The so-called "referendum" was not scheduled for the end of February by chance: most of the world’s media agenda is now occupied by military exercises, but not by the problems and consequences of the "referendum". — In 2022, the regime will do everything possible not to open polling stations abroad and, if they do open, to reduce the turnout to a minimum. — Vladzimir Astapenka pointed out even before the statement of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

Mikhail Kirilyuk on the details of the NAM’s own study of the ICAO report broadcast on Belsat "Officials guilty of an act of international terrorism and aviation piracy risk being arrested when leaving Belarus" The civilized world thinks critically, demands evidence and arguments, and is already asking many questions about the history that the dictatorship is trying to "sell". Our team also has big questions about the "Protasevich / Ryanair case". We share our thoughts and conclusions in the wake of the report of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) dated January 17, analyzing real facts. The position of the NAM remains unchanged: a crime that was committed with an obvious political purpose, in a socially dangerous way, as a result of a conspiracy of officials and representatives of the regime, can and should be qualified as an act of international terrorism and/or air piracy. Our team will do everything possible to ensure that all those involved in crimes against Belarusian society will be punished.

Three questions from Pavel Latushka to the head of the Swiss Foreign Ministry in connection with the appointment of a new ambassador to Belarus and the situation with political prisoner Natalia Hershe On December 30, Swiss political prisoner Natalya Hershe went on a hunger strike in Mogilev prison. On January 31, we learned that Switzerland is sending a new ambassador to Belarus, Christine Honegger-Zolotukhin, who will present her credentials to Lukashenka. In this regard, we have three important questions for Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis: 1) Was any progress made in protecting Natalia Hershe by the previous ambassador, Claude Altermatt? And what steps does the Swiss Foreign Ministry plan to take in this direction with the appointment of a new ambassador? 2) Do you realize that your citizen is being held hostage by Lukashenka, who is torturing her for the sole purpose of blackmailing her to gain her own recognition in the international arena, having received her credentials from the ambassador of a European country? Do you understand that these certificates will be presented not to the head of state, but to a terrorist? 3) Do you know the position of Natalia Hershe herself — does your citizen support the presentation of credentials to the terrorist Lukashenka, towards whom she expressed her attitude clearly and clearly? A little over a month ago, Switzerland supported EU sanctions against the Lukashenka regime. Now the state is ready to recognize this regime, actually turning a blind eye to its lawlessness and succumbing to its blackmail. Tell me, Mr. Cassis, by closing one eye now, how long will you keep the other open? And how will you look into the eyes of Natalia Hershe and all Belarusians after that?

Lawyer Tomasz Wilinski, with the support of the NAM, filed a complaint against Lukashenka and his accomplices to the International Criminal Court in The Hague At the end of December, Warsaw lawyer Tomasz Wilinski filed a statement with the National Prosecutor’s Office of Poland on suspicion of genocide and crimes against humanity committed by citizen Alexander Lukashenko and his accomplices. As planned, a Polish lawyer, with the support of human rights organizations and the National Anti-Crisis Management, is filing a similar application with the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The application contains 160 pages of legal reasoning and 40,000 pages of documents in an appendix. The application was submitted on behalf of a large number of citizens of Belarus, including Pavel Latushka. In a statement, Vilinski’s law firm calls on the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague to open an investigation. The suspects in the statement are citizen Alexander Lukashenka, Ivan Tertel, Nikolai Karpenkov and other representatives of various Belarusian law enforcement agencies controlled by the dictator. Head of the NAM Pavel Latushka noted: “This is an important statement, which, together with other tools, should push the leadership of various countries to more active legal actions: to submit applications to the International Court of Justice on behalf of governments, to put suspects on the wanted list under universal jurisdiction, and others. Even before the verdict is passed, the International Criminal Court, after analyzing the submitted materials, has the right to issue an arrest warrant and put the regime’s representatives on the Interpol wanted list.” The National Anti-Crisis Management thanks Tomasz Wilinski for his contribution to the struggle of Belarusians for freedom and democracy in Belarus.

The NAM team continues intensive meetings with foreign diplomats to present their position in connection with the actions of the Lukashenka regime to destabilize the situation in the region and the non-recognition of the so-called "referendum" on the Constitution of Belarus. The NAM head Pavel Latushka and the NAM foreign policy adviser Artem Brukhan met with Czech Ambassador Jakub Duerr. The representative of the Czech Republic was given the proposals of the democratic forces of Belarus on actions against the Lukashenka regime with a request to inform the new government of the Czech Republic. The ambassador, in turn, said that the new government of the Czech Republic would not shift its focus on the issue of supporting the Belarusian people. Special attention during the meeting was paid to the sanctions package against the Lukashenka regime in order to exclude exemptions from the EU sanctions and coordinate them with the sanctions of the United States and Great Britain, as well as other countries.

Accusation of regime servants of air piracy in the "Protasevich case" in the USA: explaining the legal and political consequences A few days ago, US Attorney Dennis Williams handed over to US District Judge Paul Engelmeier a case prepared on the basis of an FBI investigation regarding the forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Minsk. The NAM lawyer Mikhail Kirilyuk spoke in a commentary to Belsat about the legal and political consequences of the accusation filed in the United States. We decided to partially retell the relevant material in the cards. For more information about the investigation and the conclusions of the Americans (and not only), we recommend that you refer to this article on the Belsat website or this video on the publication’s YouTube channel. Context In May 2021, the regime forced a Ryanair civilian plane with Roman Protasevich on board to land, we are sure that each of you knows this story well. Today we are talking about bringing those responsible for the incident to justice. Now More than one investigation is underway on the incident, but the United States has advanced the farthest! The US authorities directly accused Belaeronavigatsia CEO Leonid Chur and his deputy Oleg Kozyuchits, as well as two KGB officers, of conspiracy to commit air piracy. And what does it mean? According to the FBI investigators and the prosecutor, the defendants deliberately and by prior agreement lied about the bomb on board — to land the liner and detain Protasevich. And in doing so, they endangered more than a hundred lives. In addition, the accused organized the concealment of traces of the crime. Punishment for such an act: from 20 years in prison to life imprisonment. This accusation already has significant consequences: both legal and political. What is it like? The filed charge already gives the right to summon the accused to the US court, and in case of failure to appear, to put them on the wanted list. This in itself creates significant inconvenience and risks for the minions of the regime. And when receiving orders for new criminal acts, all accomplices of the regime will take into account that they can really be put on the international wanted list, and this is for life. Even after the change of power in Belarus, the prosecution and the wanted list in the United States will not be dropped. Implications for the regime In addition, the American example may well influence the acceleration of similar processes in the "Protasevich case" in other countries. The specialists and experts responsible for these cases can easily use the arguments from which they proceeded when bringing charges in the United States. Yes, even the recognition in the United States of a forced landing of an aircraft as an act of piracy does not automatically mean the recognition of the Lukashenko regime as a terrorist, as well as the dictator himself as a terrorist. But bringing the case in the United States to the indictment of Belarusian officials of this level is one of the most serious legal actions against the Lukashenka regime in its entire history.

Pavel Latushka appealed to the British Foreign Office on the need for a tough response to the complicity of the dictator in possible aggression During the meeting with the Deputy Ambassador of Great Britain, the head of the NAM Pavel Latushka and the foreign policy officer of the NAM Vladzimir Astapenka brought a principled position on the need for real steps to non-recognize Lukashenka and deprive him of sources of international funding, as well as to bring him to criminal responsibility for the genocide of the Belarusian people, torture, an act of air piracy, a hybrid aggression against the EU, and an attempt to wage a war of aggression. The promotion of issues of criminal liability of the regime was discussed with the participation of UK law firms, with which the NAM has established cooperation. Representatives of the UK have a clear understanding of the threats posed by the deployment of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of Belarus, and the possible involvement of Belarusian military personnel to escalate the situation around Ukraine. Possible measures of financial sanctions against the regime for destabilizing the situation in the region were discussed. Representatives of the NAM noted the importance of synchronizing the actions of the EU, the US, Canada and the UK in order to increase pressure on the regime to stop mass repressions in Belarus. Pavel Latushka and Vladzimir Astapenka noted the importance of preventing Belarus from being excluded from the international agenda due to the growing tension between Russia, Ukraine and NATO. The Deputy Ambassador of Great Britain was also informed of the general position of the democratic forces on the non-recognition of Lukashenka’s right to call the so-called "referendum" on changing the constitution of the Republic of Belarus.

Appeal of the National Anti-Crisis Management on the threat to the independence of the Republic of Belarus The Lukashenka regime has lost control over the territory of Belarus. Before our eyes, the process of destruction of the state is taking place, the responsibility for which lies with the dictatorial regime of Lukashenka. His decision to deploy Russian troops in Belarus is illegal due to the loss of legitimacy from November 5, 2020 and the right to make any domestic and foreign policy decisions. In addition, the deployment of a group of troops of the Russian Federation creates a real threat to the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Belarus. The actions of the regime, which made it possible to increase the presence of the Russian military contingent in our country, created the preconditions for an act of aggression against Ukraine from the territory of Belarus. And this can cause catastrophic damage to relations between the Belarusian and Ukrainian peoples. The National Anti-Crisis Management declares the inadmissibility of military aggression from the territory of Belarus. And in this regard, we call on the democracies of the world: Declare non-recognition of Lukashenka, as France and the European Parliament and other states of the world have already done. Use all possible instruments of national and universal jurisdiction to bring Lukashenka to justice for the genocide of the Belarusian people, torture, an act of air piracy, hybrid aggression against the EU, as well as an attempt to wage an aggressive war. Expand sanctions, including against the military-industrial complex, by banning the supply of weapons and dual-use goods both from Belarus and to Belarus, and also provide for other effective instruments of accountability for the regime and related businesses. We also appeal to the command of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. Troops of another state are illegally stationed on the territory of our Motherland. Allegedly defensive exercises carried out with the use of offensive weapons are creating unprecedented tension in the region. Any provocation can become a pretext for transferring the economic and social life of Belarus to a military footing. Refuse to carry out criminal orders, demand that the Russian military leave the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Remember that you took an oath of allegiance to the Belarusian people. Belarusians! In his fanatical desire to retain power, Lukashenka is ready to unleash, if not a war, then an armed conflict with neighboring states and create a hotbed of regional instability for an indefinite period. For the implementation of his crazy plan, Lukashenka will pay with the lives of our relatives and friends. The introduction of martial law and mobilization on the territory of Belarus will entail a total restriction of economic and civil rights: a curfew, irregular working hours, withdrawal of deposits, personal property, vehicles, housing. There will be an allegedly legal possibility of expropriation of enterprises and businesses. Demand that the command of the Armed Forces stop the exercises and withdraw troops from the borders with neighboring states, demand that your children return home alive. The National Anti-Crisis Management declares countering a possible armed conflict as its main current task, but only free and peaceful Belarusians, military personnel, mothers and fathers are able to prevent a catastrophe in Belarus. We Belarusians are against the war!

Press Secretary and Advisor for Foreign Policy and Analytics Artem Brukhan is a former official of the Brest Regional Executive Committee, Master of Historical Sciences and a graduate of the Warsaw University diplomacy course "New Personnel for New Belarus". In the civil service, he was responsible for the preservation of historical heritage and international cooperation in the field of culture. Author of a number of scientific articles on military history and historical memory. At the NAM, he will serve as a press secretary — replacing Maksim Parshuta, who will focus on other projects in the democratic movement — as well as an adviser on foreign policy and analysis. The NAM team thanks Maksim Parshuta for his contribution to the creation and implementation of the tasks of our team.

Statement by Pavel Latushka at the press conference of Democratic Forces on the announced "referendum" Warsaw-Vilnius, 21.01.2022 The National Anti-Crisis Management supports the common position of the democratic forces concerning the so-called "referendum" on changing the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus announced by the illegitimate authorities. At the same time, we consider it of fundamental importance to develop a strategy of actions not only in relation to the "referendum" itself, but a united strategy that will create an opportunity for a radical change of the situation in our country and ensure the fulfillment of the demands of the Belarusian society: the end of repressions, the release of political prisoners and the holding of new free elections. The National Anti-Crisis Management believes it is crucial to state the following: 1. Regarding the democratic forces' common position on the so-called "referendum": we support the common position to invalidate the "referendum" through citizens' action. 2. Regarding the assessment of the so-called "referendum" by international partners: to seek an official statement from international partners on the non-recognition of Lukashenka’s right to hold a "referendum". This will deprive the "referendum" of any political and legal significance and will nullify the regime’s plans to restore its lost legitimacy. To ask international partners to declare that if the repression of the Belarusans who do not support the imitation "referendum" continues, further consolidated sanctions of the European Union, the US, the UK and other democratic countries will be applied against the Lukashenka regime. We expect that international partners would support the demands of the Belarusian people that the only sustainable way out of the crisis in Belarus is the release of political prisoners and the holding of new early presidential elections. 3. Regarding the presence of the Russian troops on the territory of Belarus. The National Anti-Crisis Management considers the presence of the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, which has been agreed by the illegitimate authorities in Belarus, a violation of international law. In the current situation the presence of the Russian troops poses a threat of military conflict with the neighbours of Belarus, as well as a threat of loss of sovereignty of Belarus. Based on the above, we believe that the united position of the democracies should be supplemented by the following strategy of our actions Using the "referendum" for a peaceful change of power in Belarus and meeting the demands of the Belarusian people: the release of political prisoners and the holding of new democratic presidential elections in Belarus. We should be ready to oppose the interference of foreign troops in the internal affairs of Belarus and the use of Belarus as a springboard for an attack on neighbouring countries. We appeal to our international partners: all norms of national and international law should be used to bring Lukashenka to criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity: torture, repression, murder, for hijacking the plane and hybrid war with the EU countries. We welcome the US decision to indict representatives of the regime for the hijacking of the plane. The NAM believes that the key political and legal issue for the international community is the non-recognition of Lukashenka as president of Belarus. We look forward to an appropriate decision at the level of national governments of democratic countries. This legal decision would allow Lukashenka’s actions to be considered as violating international law.

“From a transition period to sustainable democracy” on the #ExpertEnvironment platform Former employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus took part in the discussion: Vladzimir Astapenka, Pavel Latushka, Valery Tsepkalo, Valery Kavaleuski, Pavel Slyunkin and a special guest — ex-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Albinas Janushka. Main topics discussed by the speakers: The optimal structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its role among the actors shaping foreign policy Foreign policy of Belarus in the transition period Relations with the EU Relations with Russia We also recommend that you read the materials from previous discussions: «Belarus in interaction with European subregional unions, groups and neighborhood programs «Integration processes within the Eurasian Union and the CIS. Development of a new policy towards Russia» «Prospects for building partnerships with the EU in the short and long term.