{"id":179263,"date":"2026-03-13T14:32:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179263\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T14:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:32:44","slug":"lithuanian-fm-budrys-on-icc-probe-of-lukasenka-justice-must-prevail","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179263\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuanian FM Budrys on ICC probe of Luka\u0161enka: justice must prevail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n K\u0119stutis Budrys\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

March 13, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Lithuanian Foreign Minister K\u0119stutis Budrys said his country strongly welcomes the decision by the International Criminal Court\u2019s (ICC) prosecutor to launch a probe into crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Belarus since 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuania submitted a corresponding request to the ICC in 2024, the official noted on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo regime should believe it can torture, deport, persecute, or silence its opponents and citizens without consequences,\u201d Budrys stressed. \u201cJustice must prevail. Widespread and systematic attacks on civilians must be met with a clear and consistently applied accountability mechanism \u2014 because accountability is not only justice for victims; it is deterrence for the future. Those responsible must be held to account.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja reacted to this message with gratitude, pointing out Lithuania\u2019s principled position. \u201cThe ICC investigation sends a clear message: there can be no impunity for crimes against humanity committed by the Belarus regime,\u201d the politician stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its referral to the ICC, Lithuania noted that there are sufficient grounds to believe that Belarus\u2019 security forces committed crimes against humanity under orders from high-ranking Belarusian political, security and military officials since May 1, 2020. They include deportation, persecution and other inhumane acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lithuanian justice ministry said that the \u0141uka\u0161enka regime has forcibly displaced hundreds of thousands of Belarusian citizens to Lithuania and other countries, including those neighboring Belarus, without justification under international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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