Washington, 21 November 2023 (TDI): The Conflict Observatory, a program backed by the United States Department of State issued a report depicting the involvement of Belarus in Russia’s systemic abduction of children from Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As per findings, children are abducted due to re-education and military training. Additionally, Belarus and Russian governments are coordinating with each other over the removal of children from Ukraine.
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In this regard, pro-Russian governments are involved in this matter, according to the findings. This happened through the joint effort of Belarus and Russia’s single-handed policy.
In this sense, the US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller issued a statement, “A recent report from Observe Conflict outlines Belarus’s role in the systematic removal of children from Ukraine by Russia. The United States remains committed to seeking accountability for individuals implicated in abuses related to Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
Territorial integrity is so significant in the 21st century. According to the findings, both governments have used ultra-nationalist militant groups in order to deport children from Ukraine.
The report states that officials conducting relocation operations actively target children from vulnerable populations, such as those with disabilities, from low-income families, with military parents, or believed to be orphans. Typically, Belarus or Russia serves as the relocation destination.
On June 29, Pavel Latushka, a former Belarusian Culture Minister and member of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, announced that he submitted materials to the ICC.
These materials indicate that, with Lukashenko’s approval, 2,100 or more children from about 15 Russian-occupied cities in Ukraine were forcibly relocated to Belarus.
The ex-minister expressed his hope that the provided documents would lead to an ICC warrant for Lukashenko’s arrest, similar to the warrants issued last March for President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova.
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