The Global Accountability Network's Ukraine Accountability Project (GAN UAP) has prepared a report on how Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko aided and abetted Russia’s crime of aggression in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This analysis is founded upon open-source research and the collection of evidence performed by an inter-collegiate investigative team from across the USA.

This paper relies upon the Rome Statute Articles 8 bis and 25(3)(c), which allow for the prosecution of aiding and abetting the crime of aggression. The GAN UAP notes that the International Criminal Court itself is unlikely to exercise jurisdiction over these crimes, however, the Rome Statute definition has been used for a future international tribunal to consider.

The document begins with a brief historical overview of the Republic of Belarus and its relationship with the Russian Federation. The main part of the report presents evidence of Lukashenko’s deep and active involvement with Russia’s war in Ukraine, such as staging troops and weapons.

The document also articulates the international legal standard for aiding and abetting the crime of aggression, primarily focusing on the Rome Statute and customary international law.

This analysis, among other things, provides context for a draft sample indictment which charges Aleksandr Lukashenko with aiding and abetting Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. This paper may assist the international community in considering its response to international crimes perpetrated by Heads of State now and in the future, the authors of the report emphasize.

The GAN UAP extends special thanks to Professor David Crane for his assistance in preparing the report, as well as Fred Bryant, Phoebe Juel, Professor Sara Dillon, Mia Bonardi, Kate Powers, Kate Metzer, Victor Ivan, Alexandra M. Lane, Sage J. Grant, Lindsey Griffin, Omar Hajajra, Bryan Sicard, Isaiah Hutchinson, and Annika Stimac.

You can view the report at this link.

For reference: The Global Accountability Network is a network of prosecutors, lawyers, academicians and other experts, as well as students, who collect and analyse information from open sources about international crimes. GAN continues to focus on events in Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, China, and now Ukraine. The Ukrainian Bar Association supports GAN’s efforts to gather information about crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and to widely disseminate such information to the international community, and also provides expert and volunteer assistance to GAN investigative activities.

In total, three editions of the GAN UAP Report on war crimes, crimes against humanity and crime of aggression committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine have been published. The report was prepared with the assistance of the Ukrainian Bar Association. The document, inter alia, describes the international legal mechanisms for bringing the Russian Federation to justice, identifies persons responsible for crimes committed, and provides examples of indictments against Russia’s top military and political leadership. The report calls on the international community to respond to violations of international law using existing accountability mechanisms.

You can view the first, second and third editions of the report using the links provided.

You can also read the first volume of the GAN UAP report on Russian mass destruction of the natural environment in Ukraine.