A group of lawyers in Germany have accused the Belarusian president, dubbed 'Europe's last dictator,' of crimes against humanity during anti-government protests.
Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko hit back at a legal complaint against himImage: Imago Images/ITAR-TASS/V. Sharifulin
Lukashenko said Friday that the "heirs of fascism" were in no position to judge him, in reference to Germany's Nazi past.
"I do not reproach them. But they are the heirs of the generations who unleashed that war," Lukashenko said, referring to World War II. "It's a dumb move."
The official Belta news agency quoted Belarus' president two days before the country commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.
What are the allegations against Lukashenko?
Four German lawyers submitted a complaint against Lukashenko and the security apparatus on behalf of 10 Belarusian plaintiffs on Wednesday.
The lawyers sent the complaint to Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe, home to the country's top courts.
The lawyers alleged that their clients were victims of crimes against humanity, including torture.
Under the principle of universal jurisdiction, Germany can, in theory, prosecute crimes against humanity regardless of where they were committed or the nationalities of the victims and perpetrators.
The new rules came into force several years ago, but the first case came to a conclusion this year.
Women fight for Belarus' future
For months now, women have been out on the streets in Minsk, demanding democracy. Now, an exhibition in Lithuania called "The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women" is showcasing photographs of the protests.
Image: Volha Shukaila/TUT.BY
With flowers and earrings
For months now, women in Belarus have been protesting for democracy and the resignation of the autocratic president, Alexander Lukashenko. Nadia, the young woman who is looking into the eyes of the policeman, spent 10 days in jail, according to a description of the image at the exhibition "The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women," in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Image: Iryna Arakhouskaya
Decidedly feminine
Many of the women have chosen to stress their femininity in the marches. This photograph in the exhibition shows 24-year-old Anna (l), with two other young women. Anna is wearing a wedding dress and veil that her mother wore when she got married 26 years ago. Lukashenko has been president of Belarus during that entire period. The picture was taken by photographer Nadia Buzhan.
Image: Nadia Buzhan
300 arrests in one day
Taken on September 19, 2020, this photograph shows policemen arresting and dragging a protester away. The museum in Vilnius says that according to human rights groups, 300 people were arrested by the police on this day when the "Woman's March" took place.
Image: Iryna Arakhouskaya
Young and old
Despite arrests and threats, women of all ages are participating in the marches. They wear white and red, the colors of Belarus. Security forces have deployed water cannons and batons against the protesters.
Image: MO Museum/Rytis Seskaitis
Forced into silence?
The MO Museum in Vilnius is organizing the exhibition with the aim of supporting the democratic movement in the neighboring country. In a press statement, the mayor of Vilnius, Remigijus Simasius, said that the city serves as a "safe haven" for Belarussian citizens.
Image: Volha Shukaila/TUT.BY
An exiled voice
Exiled leader of the Belarusian opposition Swetlana Tichanowskaja sends her words of support. "This exhibition is dedicated to women from Belarus. We had a common goal: to bring freedom and the rule of law back to Belarus. Women are at the forefront in this struggle. Like for many other women, this struggle is a personal battle for me."
Image: Volha Shukaila/TUT.BY
Open exhibition despite lockdown
Employees at Vilnius' MO museum have found a way to show pictures of the protests despite the COVID lockdown. The images are projected on the external walls of the museum so everybody can see them.
Image: MO Museum/Rytis Seskaitis
A kiss for democracy
All photographs have been taken by women journalists Nadia Buzhan, Darya Burakina, Iryna Arakhouskaya, Volha Shukaila and Viyaleta Sauchyts. In this way, the museum wants to focus on women. "Women have become the symbol of peaceful protests in Belarus. They are courageously protesting against the patriarchal and violent government."
Image: MO Museum/Rytis Seskaitis
The making of the exhibition
The exhibition can be seen everyday between 6 and 11 p.m. local time at the MO Museum in Vilnius until March 4, 2021. The photographers have also made short films in which they speak about their experience documenting the protests. These can be seen on the MO Museum'w website, which also offers a virtual tour of the exhibition.
