Sviatlana Tsikhanovska: The International Criminal Court should issue an arrest warrant for Lukashenka

The International Criminal Court should issue an arrest warrant for the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, just the way it did for the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This was stated by Sviatlana Tsikhanovska, Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus at the 15^th annual Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s “Open Ukraine” Foundation.

According to Tsikhanovska, her Deputy Pavlo Latushko recently published a report recording facts of forced deportation of Ukrainian children not only to the territory of Russia, but also to the territory of Belarus. Therefore, in her opinion, the International Criminal Court should issue a similar arrest warrant to Lukashenko the way it did to Putin.

“Lukashenko must bear all liability for his war crimes. We must ensure the global impeachment of Lukashenka and stop his crimes. Only a democratic Belarus can improve and restore the reputation of our country,” she emphasized.

Ms Tsikhanovska labelled “a false practice” any discussion of the possibility of easing sanctions against the Belarusian regime.

“We have to press even more onto this regime through sanctions and political isolation. Lukashenko is viewed as a destabilization element in Europe. Without Putin, this regime would not survive,” she said.

“In Belarus we witness policies aimed at complete destruction of the national identity of Belarus. Lukashenko gives away our territory to Russia, as well as weapons and opportunities to continue Russian aggression against Ukraine. The only chance for us is the victory of Ukraine, and this means that we should continue and enhance our efforts, we must multiply them instead of standing idle,” added the leader of the Belarusian opposition.

She recalled that Lukashenko agreed to deploy Russian nuclear weapons in the territory of the country, and this move violates the 1986 non-proliferation treaty.

“The majority of our people favor independence of Belarus, we stand against war and against nuclear weapons, but all such sentiments are subdued by the oppressive regime,” she noted.

Noteworthy, the 15th annual Kyiv security forum “For Our and Your Freedom/ Fighting for NATO” will be held on May 25-26, 2023, with the participation of well-known international figures. In particular, at the Forum, the KSF Security Council will be established and a policy document will be adopted with recommendations for the NATO summit in Vilnius to be held this July.