The Law and Democracy Center (Justice Hub) on September 13th hosted a pivotal international conference in Vilnius, focused on exploring the avenues for holding the Belarusian regime accountable for its ongoing crimes and human rights violations. The event gathered esteemed legal experts, human rights activists, and representatives of the democratic world, united by a common goal: ensuring justice for the victims of Lukashenka’s authoritarian regime.
The conference served as the culmination of a year-long project spearheaded by the Center, which has centered around three main objectives:
- Providing legal assistance to victims of the Belarusian regime, particularly through the principle of universal jurisdiction.
- Documenting and collecting evidence on the role of Belarusian judges in enforcing politically motivated decisions.
- Raising awareness of the legal options available for holding the Belarusian regime accountable.
Key Themes and Discussions
During the event, participants emphasized the urgent need for timely legal redress, referencing the well-known maxim «Justice delayed is justice denied», as pointed out by Dainius Žalimas, co-organizer of the event, in his opening remarks. The conference addressed critical questions about the international community’s responsibility and the mechanisms through which it could confront the systematic repression in Belarus.
Prof. Dr. Dainius Žalimas, one of the keynote speakers, highlighted the challenge of delayed justice, pointing out that «the further delay in delivering justice will produce deteriorating effects», leading to loss of trust by the victims in international justice systems. He stressed the importance of applying universal jurisdiction, creating a special tribunal for the regime’s crimes, and expanding the scope of international sanctions.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of democratic Belarus, during her keynote speech, said:
«We must stop such impunity. Because impunity breeds monsters. All perpetrators should understand: they can’t escape justice forever».
The conference also focused on the parallels between the crimes committed by the Belarusian regime and those in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for cohesive international action. Žalimas remarked that both sets of crimes share a common aim: the destruction of national identity and the principles of humanity itself. Despite the enormity of the challenges ahead, he encouraged attendees to persist in their commitment to justice.
The conference reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to seek justice for Belarus and underscored the urgency of continued legal actions. As the event concluded, the participants expressed hope that these discussions would pave the way for concrete measures and renewed global attention on the plight of the Belarusian people.