The International Criminal Court (ICC) has initiated an official investigation into the Belarusian government led by Alexander Lukashenko, whose leadership is not recognized by several countries. This inquiry focuses on alleged crimes against humanity that reportedly began following the 2020 elections.
According to a press release from the ICC, the investigation centers on accusations of politically motivated deportations that are said to be part of state policy. The court has been urged to examine these claims since September 2024, particularly by the Lithuanian government, which contends that some of the alleged crimes occurred on its territory.
As Belarus is not a signatory of the Rome Statute, the ICC has been assessing whether it has jurisdiction over the alleged offenses. The ICC stated, “There are sufficient grounds to believe that coercive actions leading to deportations constituted a course of conduct against actual or perceived opponents of the Belarusian government, in accordance with or in support of state policy.”
The investigation will cover cross-border crimes, addressing any past or ongoing allegations of offenses committed in Belarus since May 1, 2020. ICC member states, including Lithuania, have been informed of this decision.
In May 2025, Lithuania also filed a lawsuit against Minsk at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, accusing the Belarusian authorities of orchestrating a migration crisis, which it views as a violation of international law.
The unrest in Belarus intensified on August 9, 2020, when Lukashenko declared victory in the presidential elections, leading to mass protests. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians took to the streets, denouncing what they perceived as electoral fraud, the exclusion of popular opposition figures, and excessive state pressure across various sectors. In the years that followed, over 65,000 individuals were detained, and many political prisoners remain incarcerated. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have been compelled to leave their homeland.
The ICC has begun an investigation into the Belarusian government for alleged crimes against humanity linked to actions post-2020 elections. This move follows calls from Lithuania and addresses serious accusations of state-sponsored deportations and political repression.