The International Criminal Court’s budget for 2027 includes funding for an investigation into the “Belarusian situation.” The United Transitional Cabinet reported this, citing documents published on the website of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute.
The budget provides funding for the Office of the Prosecutor’s investigation into the “Belarusian situation” and investigative activities that could lead to judicial proceedings before the Pre-Trial Chamber, including decisions on issuing arrest warrants. Funding is also earmarked for a joint investigative team and a victims and witnesses unit in connection with the “Belarusian situation.”
The proposed budget still has to be approved by the Assembly at its meeting in December.
“The proposed budget document demonstrates planning for an active investigation of the ‘Belarusian situation’ by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Moreover, the document signals an expectation of judicial activity at the level of the Pre-Trial Chamber related to this investigation, including proceedings on potential applications for arrest warrants,” said Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet.
“It is symbolic that against this backdrop, on September 16, Lukashenka carried out another act of forced deportation of a group of 25 political prisoners while at the same time announcing plans to continue the relevant international crimes.
The National Anti-Crisis Management and human rights organizations continue to collect evidence, compile it and submit it to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. In turn, the United Transitional Cabinet and the National Anti-Crisis Management will continue working to advocate for support for the investigation into the ‘Belarusian situation’ by other states parties to the Rome Statute,” he added.
