ICC should issue arrest warrant for Lukashenko - Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head of the Joint Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, said this during the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, organized by Arseniy Yatsenyuk's Open Ukraine Foundation.

According to Tsikhanouskaya, her deputy, Pavel Latushko, recently released a report documenting the deportation of Ukrainian children not only to Russia but also to Belarus. Therefore, in her opinion, the International Criminal Court should treat Lukashenko the same way as Putin by issuing an arrest warrant for him.

“Lukashenko must be held accountable for his war crimes. We must ensure Lukashenko's global impeachment and stop his crimes. Only a democratic Belarus will be able to improve and restore the reputation of our country,” she emphasized.

Tsikhanouskaya also called the talks about the possibility of easing sanctions against the Belarusian regime a 'false practice'. 

“We need to put more pressure on this regime through sanctions and political isolation. Lukashenko is being used as an element of destabilization in Europe. Without Putin, this regime would not have survived,” she said.

“We see a policy aimed at the complete destruction of the national identity of Belarus. Lukashenko is giving Russia territory, weapons and opportunities to continue its aggression against Ukraine. The only chance for us is the victory of Ukraine, but this does not mean that we should not continue our efforts, on the contrary, we must multiply them,” added the Belarusian opposition leader.

She recalled that Lukashenko agreed to deploy Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of the country, which violates the 1986 non-proliferation treaties.

“The majority of the population of our country is in favor of independence, against war and against nuclear weapons, but the repressive regime is stifling these sentiments,” she said.

On May 25-26, the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum “For Our Freedom and Yours / Fighting for NATO” was held with the participation of prominent international figures. The Forum, among other things, formed the KSF Security Council and adopted a position paper with recommendations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July.