Italian FM pledges to investigate deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus

July 6, BPN. Italy will support an investigation into the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus and complicity of Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime in these crimes, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani promised Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja at their meeting in Rome.

The meeting focused on the European Union’s possible new sanctions against Łukašenka, the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus as well as assistance to the Belarusian civil society and independent media, her aide Franak Viačorka told BPN.

Cichanoŭskaja called for international attention to the plight of Belarusian political prisoners, noting that more pressure is needed to secure their release.

The opposition leader suggested using frozen assets of persons linked to the Łukašenka regime to support Belarusian political prisoners citing recent reports that Italy froze an estimated €2 billion in Russian and Belarusian assets.

Tajani promised her that Italy would downgrade its diplomatic presence in Belarus and would not send a new ambassador to Minsk, Viačorka said.

At the same time, Italy will continue to issue visas to Belarusians, support Belarusian students and offer assistance to children since it distinguishes between the regime and ordinary people, Tajani assured Cichanoŭskaja.

The opposition leader invited Italy’s foreign minister to participate in side events on Belarus during the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius and to help organize another side event at the UN General Assembly.

Cichanoŭskaja also urged Italy to declare Łukašenka’s regime a sponsor of terrorism for its support of Russia’s Wagner Group blacklisted as a criminal and terrorist organization.

Earlier, she asked the Italian Senate to assist in setting up a tribunal to ensure Łukašenka’s accountability.

Cichanoŭskaja is on official visit to Italy from July 5 to 7 at the invitation of the Italian parliament and foreign minister.