The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation into alleged crimes by the Belarusian government that led to the deportation of regime opponents, Reuters reports.
Belarus is not under the ICC’s jurisdiction, but Lithuania initiated the case. Prosecutors have concluded that at least some of the alleged crimes were committed on Lithuanian territory, which allows the ICC to open an investigation. The Belarusian embassy in the Netherlands did not respond to requests for comment.
The ICC prosecutors said there were grounds to believe that Belarus’ actions were directed against real or perceived opponents of the Minsk regime. Also, given the scale, number of victims and the organized nature of the actions, there are grounds to believe that the
crimes committed by the Belarusian government are part of a widespread and systematic attack on civilians.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she welcomed the ICC’s statement. She stressed that hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have suffered and continue to suffer because of the regime’s actions, and that the policies of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko also pose a threat to neighboring countries. “This decision restores hope. That justice will prevail, that those responsible will be held accountable, and that the victims will finally receive truth and justice,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
Read also: Lithuania considers freezing Belarusian assets
Read also: Belarus releases 52 political prisoners, including Latvian citizens