Coordination Council delegate and member of the Belarusian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Pavel Latushka, commented on the adoption by PACE of the resolution “Support for Commitment to a Comprehensive, Just and Lasting Peace for Ukraine and the Security of the European Continent” and the memorandum to the resolution.
He recalled that PACE had previously already established in its decisions the responsibility of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and the top leadership for the act of aggression against Ukraine, as well as for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. This, he noted, “became the foundation for the adoption of subsequent PACE documents.”
The memorandum to the adopted resolution refers to the creation of a Special Tribunal “to hold Russian and Belarusian leaders accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.” The document also stresses that Russia’s aggressive war, carried out with the participation of the Lukashenka regime in Belarus, has led to increased rigidity in the positions of both regimes.
In addition, the memorandum states that Belarus, acting as an accomplice in the aggressive war against Ukraine, has strengthened its military alliance with Russia. The participation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in the deportation of Ukrainian children to the territory of Belarus is highlighted separately.
Latushka said he would continue his work within PACE to build a legal framework for holding the top military and political leadership of the Lukashenka regime accountable for aggression against Ukraine.
“We will also use other possible instruments to achieve justice for Belarusians as well — the victims of the Lukashenka regime. It is planned that this will be the subject of a separate address during the PACE session at a specially organized event dedicated to cross-border crimes committed by the Lukashenka regime against Belarusians,” he emphasized.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution No. 2637, in which it spoke in favor of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing aggression.
The PACE document welcomed the diplomatic efforts of Ukraine, the United States, and European allies aimed at countering Russia’s actions since the beginning of the conflict in 2014, which entered a full-scale phase in 2022. The Assembly condemned Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire, as well as war crimes and targeted strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, recognizing them as crimes against humanity.
The resolution calls on Council of Europe member states to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities, promote peace negotiations with mandatory respect for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensure effective international security guarantees. It also stresses the need to hold Russia accountable, including through the creation of a comprehensive international compensation mechanism.
The document also contains a call to strengthen the European security architecture to counter Russian threats and to preserve unity among Council of Europe member states and their allies, including the United States, in defending international law and democratic values.
The resolution was adopted by a majority vote: 104 deputies voted in favor, three voted against, and three abstained.