The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine is investigating the participation of the Belarusian Red Cross in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from territories occupied by the Russian Federation. The actions of the Belarusian Red Cross are said to have seriously violated the norms of the Geneva Conventions and the fundamental principles of the Red Cross.

Участь Білоруського Червоного Хреста у примусовій депортації українських дітей з окупованих рф територій до білорусі є співучастю у скоєнні міжнародного злочину. Ця організація грубо порушує норми Женевських конвенцій, а також Основоположні принципи Руху Червоного Хреста. Ми… pic.twitter.com/1rY7palPew

— Andriy Kostin (@AndriyKostinUa) July 23, 2023

Belarusian opposition groups have claimed that over 2,000 Ukrainian children from at least 15 cities occupied by Russia were deported to Belarus. The Belarusian Red Cross, however, only reported that over 700 Ukrainian children were staying in Belarus.

The Ukrainian prosecutor hopes that the International Committee of the Red Cross will address these violations and take appropriate actions. The General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine has initiated an investigation into the forced displacement or deportation of children.

This investigation is part of the larger issue of the unlawful deportation of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia. On March 17, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin, stating that there were reasonable grounds to believe he was responsible for war crimes involving the unlawful deportation of children. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for the Russian spokesperson for children’s rights, Maria Lwova-Belova, who is accused of the same crimes as Putin.

The participation of the Belarusian Red Cross in the deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories is a serious matter that needs to be addressed. It is important that international organizations like the Red Cross uphold their fundamental principles and protect the rights of vulnerable populations, especially children, in times of conflict. The investigation by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office should shed light on the actions of the Belarusian Red Cross and ensure that justice is served.