Official confirmation: Zelenskyy demands Ukraine's General Prosecutor initiate criminal proceedings against Lukashenko!
Accusing Lukashenko of two crimes, Belarus responds with utter disregard.
Russian media "World Politics News" reported on August 1.
The Office of Ukraine's General Prosecutor has confirmed receipt of a request to initiate criminal proceedings against Lukashenko.
According to the regulatory body's press office, the Director of the Information Policy and Communications Department has confirmed receipt of the relevant documents.
Ukraine calls for holding Alexander Lukashenko accountable, accusing him of involvement in military operations and the transfer of Ukrainian children.
Currently, Ukraine has officially confirmed this information.
Core accusations raised by Ukraine:
1. Assisting Russia in launching military operations against Ukraine.
Ukrainian perspective: Lukashenko allowed Russian forces to use Belarusian territory to launch attacks toward Kyiv in 2022, opened airspace, and provided military bases and logistical routes—constituting complicity in war.
2. Forced transfer of Ukrainian children.
Ukraine cites data from relevant institutions, accusing Lukashenko’s administration of participating in the relocation of at least 2,442 Ukrainian children to Belarus, with intent to pursue charges under war crimes and crimes related to genocide.
Belarusian explanation: The children were temporarily accommodated during wartime and received humanitarian aid—there was no forced migration involved.
Official response from Belarus:
Belarus President's Press Secretary Ayezmont stated: The authorities have long been aware of these plans but do not take such accusations seriously.
He considers Ukraine’s unilateral prosecution legally invalid and politically motivated.
Key legal constraints (from an international law perspective):
1. International legal practice: Current heads of state enjoy immunity from criminal jurisdiction in foreign domestic courts.
International Criminal Court (ICC): Can prosecute individuals for war crimes regardless of head-of-state immunity;
National prosecutors/courts of individual states: Unilaterally prosecuting a sitting foreign head of state is generally not recognized by the international community.
2. Even if Ukraine formally opens a case, it can only proceed as a trial in absentia; there is no practical pathway to bring Lukashenko before a Ukrainian court.
Ukraine’s strategic intentions (as a “legal warfare” tool):
1. Diplomatic pressure: To provide public opinion and legal justification for Western countries to intensify sanctions against Belarus, thereby further isolating Lukashenko’s regime;
2. Mobilizing Belarusian opposition in exile: Kyiv strengthens cooperation with overseas Belarusian dissidents to construct a unified anti-Lukashenko narrative;
3. Fracturing the Russia-Belarus alliance: Continuous pressure on Lukashenko aims to force Belarus to reassess risks in its collaboration with Russia;
4. Public relations campaign: Continues Ukraine’s longstanding strategy—using criminal charges to label Russia’s allies as “war participants,” thus gaining international sympathy.
Currently, Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office has merely registered the application and begun legal evaluation—it has not yet formally initiated proceedings.
Two possible outcomes lie ahead:
Prosecutors formally file charges and issue a domestic arrest warrant (valid only within Ukraine, lacking cross-border enforcement power);
After weighing diplomatic risks, decide to suspend criminal proceedings due to insufficient evidence.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872276706928648/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.