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ICC Launches Investigation into Belarusian Officials Over Crimes Against Humanity
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially opened an investigation into Belarusian officials suspected of committing crimes against humanity, particularly related to the mass deportations and persecution of political opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko’s government, starting in May 2020.
According to The Moscow Times, the investigation follows a request from Lithuania, a member of the ICC, which noted that some of the alleged crimes occurred on its territory.
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In a statement released on March 12, the ICC highlighted that there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that the actions leading to the deportations were part of a deliberate effort targeting real or perceived opponents of the Belarusian government. The court also noted that these actions were “encouraged or endorsed at the highest levels of authority.”
The ICC had previously issued arrest warrants for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Children’s Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova in 2023, related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. However, despite these efforts, visits by Putin to countries like Mongolia (2024) and Tajikistan (2025) revealed that even ICC member states sometimes fail to fulfill their obligations. Mongolia justified its actions based on its energy dependency on Russia, while Tajikistan cited Russia’s non-signatory status to the Rome Statute and bilateral agreements granting immunity to high-ranking officials.
Kateryna Deykalo, a lawyer and former head of the Department of International Law at Belarusian State University, explained that the investigation into Belarusian leadership is limited in scope, according to The Moscow Times.
Since Belarus has not ratified the Rome Statute, the ICC can only address cross-border crimes that originated in Belarus and ended in Lithuania. The focus of the investigation is mainly on the deportation of individuals, with many forced to leave due to persecution.
The investigation is expected to take a period of one to several years, during which the prosecutor must gather evidence and build cases against specific individuals. As reported by The Moscow Times, only after this process can the Pre-Trial Chamber issue arrest warrants.
Deykalo clarified that the ICC does not hold trials in absentia, meaning the accused must be physically present in court for proceedings. Until then, arrest warrants will limit the suspects' movement, but actual detention can only occur if there is a regime change or if the suspect enters a country willing to enforce the court’s decision.
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Meanwhile, in Belarus, there has been an uptick in military activity, sparking concerns due to large-scale calls for reservists and increased drills near the Ukrainian border. While these actions are part of standard readiness assessments, military experts suggest that they are still being closely monitored by neighboring nations.
Since mid-February 2026, Belarusian authorities have activated reserves for unexpected military exercises, raising alarms within local communities.
The mobilization has notably affected fathers of multiple children, with social media reports indicating that some individuals, including those who had never previously served in the military, have been abruptly called to participate in training.
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