Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management Pavel Latushka believes that the International Criminal Court’s investigation remains the most effective mechanism for holding Aliaksandr Lukashenka accountable for aiding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. He made the remarks on Aug. 7 during a special event at the New Belarus Conference in Warsaw dedicated to Belarus’ role in the war against Ukraine.
Speaking about possible avenues for holding the regime accountable, Latushka referred to the recent appeal by the Belarusian Democratic Forces Forum, founded by Valery Tsapkala, to the Office of the President of Ukraine requesting the opening of criminal proceedings against Lukashenka. Latushka noted that a separate criminal investigation into the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus is already underway, making a new case unnecessary.
“When we speak about the criminal case concerning the war crime of the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine to Belarus and their subsequent indoctrination, such a criminal case already exists, and there was no point in making such a request. (…)
In 2023, after the National Anti-Crisis Management handed over — and I personally attended that meeting — two communications to the Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court concerning the unlawful transfer of at least 3,500 Ukrainian children to Belarus and their subsequent indoctrination, including orphaned children, staff members of the National Anti-Crisis Management were invited by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. Within the framework of that criminal case and in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, we submitted those materials and provided testimony during the investigation.
This case has not been opened specifically against Lukashenka, and in principle there is no need for that, because there is already a case being handled by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court,” the politician said.
In his view, proving charges of genocide against Lukashenka would be considerably more difficult. If sufficient evidence is gathered, Latushka said he would support such an initiative.
“Even Vladimir Putin has not yet been charged with genocide. To be honest, I support Lukashenka being held fully accountable. Proving that Lukashenka is responsible for genocide will be quite difficult. But if the evidence can be collected, I would fully support it,” he said.
According to Latushka, the International Criminal Court’s investigation is the most effective instrument because neither personal nor functional immunity applies to Lukashenka within its framework. He also said that, according to available information, the ICC prosecutor is already investigating these allegations using materials submitted by the National Anti-Crisis Management and Yale University.
Latushka also spoke about efforts to establish the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. He recalled that the agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine was signed in June 2025 and that the tribunal’s founding documents have now been signed by 36 countries and the European Commission. The ratification process is currently underway, after which a governing committee will begin forming the tribunal, appointing judges and prosecutors, and establishing its secretariat.
Latushka estimated that the tribunal could begin full operations in 2027. He said the National Anti-Crisis Management, BELPOL and iSANS are collecting evidence that they intend to submit once the tribunal becomes operational.
The head of the National Anti-Crisis Management also said that during the recent visit of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet to Kyiv, an agreement was reached to provide new evidence to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and Prosecutor General’s Office as it becomes available.
Speaking about the investigation into crimes against humanity, Latushka thanked the Lithuanian authorities for their cooperation in preparing materials for the ICC and said that the Belarusian democratic forces had also asked the Ukrainian side to consider joining that investigation.
