Cichanoŭskaja: Belarus to ratify Rome Statute when dictatorship falls
Cichanoŭskaja (center) and Łatuška (right of her) at the news conference in The Hague
October 1, Pozirk. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will be the first treaty ratified by Belarus after the collapse of dictatorship, opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja told a press conference in The Hague.
On September 30, at the request of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM) and on the basis of its documents, the Lithuanian government submitted a referral concerning transnational crimes against humanity committed by Alaksandar Łukašenka and his accomplices against Belarusians to the ICC prosecutor.
This historic day brings hope for justice and accountability, Cichanoŭskaja said. A new Belarus will have no place for international crime or criminals hiding from international justice, she said, adding that the country will be under the ICC jurisdiction.
In a video statement yesterday, NAM head Pavieł Łatuška expressed hope that the referral will lead to an arrest warrant for Łukašenka.
“Essentially, it set a new precedent. For the first time in the ICC practice, a member of the Rome Statute has referred to the prosecutor’s office a situation relating to a non-member,” he said.
ICC prosecutor to examine Lithuania’s request to open Łukašenka investigation
September 30, Pozirk. An International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor will conduct a preliminary examination to determine if there is a reason to proceed with the opening of an investigation into Belarusian officials’ possible complicity in crimes against humanity. ICC Prosecutor Karim …