The leader of the Belarusian opposition, Svitlana Tsykhanovska, who is in exile, accused Oleksandr Lukashenko of personally ordering the illegal transfer of Ukrainian orphans, and suggested that he may be guilty of war crimes, reports Guardian.
Tsyganovska, who lives in exile in Vilnius, said that “enough evidence” has been gathered that points to the “direct involvement” of Lukashenka and his regime in the deportation of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories to Belarus.
“Aleksandr Lukashenko personally ordered the transfer of orphans to Belarus and facilitated their arrival through financial and organizational support,” says the report sent by Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign ministers.
According to Svitlana Tsikhanouska’s team, at least 2,150 children will be delivered to Belarus by the end of May 2023. Some were sent to the Dubrava camp in Minsk region, which is said to be run by Beloruskali, the state-owned potash company and the main source. revenues of the Lukashenko regime.
The accusations against Lukashenka and Belarus came against the backdrop of increased pressure on the EU to strengthen sanctions against Belarus. The EU has already imposed sanctions on Belarus, including Beloruskali, both for its role in supporting the Russian invasion and its brutal crackdown on protesters after the 2020 election. should be released in the name of food security.
The European Commission has proposed an exception for Belarus, believing that it will reduce global food shortages.
Lithuania, supported by Poland, Estonia and Hungary, refuses to approve sanctions if an exception for Belarus is included. In Vilnius, they claim that the market is adjusting to the supply of potash alternatives from Belarus. “Our duty is not to fall for Russian propaganda. Lack of fertilizers [și] Sanctions against Russia do not cause food insecurity,” the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said on Twitter on Monday.
In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Child Rights Commissioner Maria Oleksiivna Lvova-Belova for the war crime of illegal deportation of children.
Source: Hot News
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