Dzmitry Shautsou, the head of the Belarusian Red Cross, caused a sensation when he announced that the organization is relocating Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied areas to Belarus. This alarming declaration has raised major concerns and potential implications, as it may indicate that the group is complicit in what Ukraine considers a war crime.
Belarus’ Red Cross Confesses its Involvement in Deportations
Dzmitry Shautsou told state TV station Belarus 1 that the Belarusian Red Cross has been bringing Ukrainian youngsters to Belarus for “rehabilitation.” This was the first time the group publicly admitted to deportations, despite being suspected of kidnapping youngsters seeking treatment. Ukraine and IFRC were furious.
Frightening Whispers Regarding Deportations and Forced Relocations
The Ukrainian government has long claimed that Russia snatches Ukrainian children from controlled areas and forces them to return to Ukraine. Some Russian authorities may have boasted about how hard they worked to bring these youngsters to Russia, place them with Russian families, and, in some circumstances, provide them with Russian ID cards. Because international treaties define these actions as war crimes, the participation of the Belarusian Red Cross creates serious legal and moral concerns.
Outrage and Cries for Responsibility
The IFRC expressed “grave concern” that the Belarus Red Cross was complicit in the deportations and demanded that they cease immediately. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement takes actions that are contrary to their purpose of assisting people very seriously. The Ukrainian Red Cross has asked the IFRC to criticize Belarus’ participation and consider expulsion from the international organization.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, resorted to Twitter to urge that those who stole Ukrainian children be held accountable. He requested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue an arrest warrant for Dzmitry Shautsou, who admitted in public that he illegally removed children from occupied areas of Ukraine. In connection with an alleged scheme to deport Ukrainian children to Russia, the ICC has previously issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova.
Belarus’s Troubled Alliance and Reports of Forced Displacement
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s close friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his role in allowing Russia to use Belarus to invade Ukraine have aggravated the issue. The National Anti-Crisis Management Group, a Belarusian resistance group, alleges that Ukrainian children are forced to attend camps and clinics in Belarus. These claims are unverifiable.
The Belarusian Red Cross’s involvement in the evacuation of Ukrainian children outraged the world. The IFRC and the relevant authoritative figures need to conduct research in order to grasp and comprehend the thought process of the people who were tempted to do this because of the circumstances. Young and sensitive kids trapped in violent situations need to be kept secure, and any sort of rights violations should be looked into as soon as possible. As it worsens, people worldwide are watching and hope for a fair and loving solution for the children and their family.
Leave feedback about this