PACE resolution calls for international tribunal to investigate Belarus’ role in Ukraine war
Dictator Alexander Lukashenko (Photo:Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS)
Belarus is a co-belligerent in Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, and the regime of its self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko must be brought before a special tribunal – along with senior Russian leadership, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said in an unanimously-adopted resolution on Jan. 26.
The document specifies that both Russia and Belarus are responsible for the unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and the brutal crimes committed by invading forces.
“The Assembly also notes that Belarus has participated in the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, as it has allowed its territory to be used by the Russian Federation for perpetrating acts of aggression against Ukraine,” the resolution reads.
“Its role and complicity should be condemned by the international community and its leaders should be held to account.”
PACE has urged European Council member and observer states to establish a special international tribunal in the Hague – to investigate the crime of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, unleashed in 2014.
The resolution further states that Moscow’s official rhetoric used to attempt to justify the invasion has signs of public endorsement of genocide, and could signify an intent to perpetrate a crime of genocide against the Ukrainian people.
On Jan. 26, representatives of 20 countries gathered in Prague, Czech Republic, to discuss ongoing efforts to establish a special tribunal to investigate Russian crimes in Ukraine.
On Jan. 19, the European Parliament adopteda resolution that calls for such a tribunal to be convened.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba earlier said that a special tribunal is the only realistic avenue for holding Russian leadership accountable for the apparent crime of armed aggression against Ukraine.
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