1 September 2022
PUBLIC APPEAL
A statement on preventing illegal use of the territory of the Republic of Belarus for military purposes by the country aggressor Russian Federation.
We, citizens of the Republic of Belarus, participants of the Forum of the Democratic Forces of Belarus, representatives of public and diaspora organizations draw your attention to the terrorist threat towards Ukraine by the Republic of Belarus, from which territory the missile shelling of Ukraine is carried out.
In connection with these events, the participants of the Forum of the Democratic Forces of Belarus state the fact that the territory of the Republic of Belarus is used for military purposes by the country aggressor Russian Federation. This grossly violates and contradicts Article 18 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.
The criminal regime, which seized power in the Republic of Belarus as a result of an unconstitutional coup and holds power by force, is an accomplice in war crimes and must be prosecuted within international law.
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the vast majority of citizens of the Republic of Belarus oppose any manifestation of aggression and hostilities against other countries. (Based on page 33 of the Report of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future “What to do with Belarus. The logic of influencing the country” 30 July 2022). The report is attached for your reference.
Following the falsification of the election of the President of the Republic of Belarus, in August 2020, popular protests were severely suppressed by the Lukashenko regime and more than 600,000 Belarusians were forced to leave Belarus because of persecution for political reasons. Starting in preparation for the election campaign to this day, a large-scale long-term oppression of the political will of citizens is being held in Belarus. All citizens, regarding of their condition and situation come under it: mothers of many children, people with disabilities and elderly people with chronic or fatal illness such as cancer.
It is necessary to accurately separate the actions of the regime under the leadership of Lukashenko - who is acting Putin’s assistant, who in turn is a sponsor of terrorism, and the will of most Belarusians.
Putin supported Lukashenko in suppressing peaceful protests in Belarus and sponsors the terror of civilians in the Republic of Belarus.
Putin have contributed to:
1. Enhancing the dictatorship in both Belarus and the Russian Federation;
2. In the organization of the Second Front of the War with Ukraine;
3. In preparation of the group and bridgehead for a possible attack on Lithuania and Poland in order to create a land corridor in the Kaliningrad region;
4. He broke the conditions of the Budapest Memorandum 1994 in terms of security guarantees for Ukraine.
In connection with the above we require:
1.to recognise Putin as a sponsor of terror;
2. to recognize Putin a military criminal in connection with the crimes committed in Ukraine;
3. to recognize the Russian Federation as the country aggressor;
4. to recognize the Republic of Belarus as a territory occupied by Russian troops
5. to recognize Lukashenko as head of a terrorist organization;
6. to recognise Lukashenko guilty for crimes against humanity and on the basis of the victims’ statements, institute a criminal case in the International Criminal Court;
7. immediate withdrawal of troops of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Belarus;
8. to recognize a terrorist organization under the leadership of Lukashenko as an accomplice of the war in Ukraine.
Despite the pressure on the Belarusian society, the threats to the massacre of Belarusians who resist Lukashenko's criminal regime, we continue to work to stop terror against other countries. We will not stop in our desire to gain independence of Belarus and build democratic institutions that will guarantee the security of the civilized world.
It was adopted by the temporary composition of the Council of the Forum of the United Democratic Forces of Belarus on August 26, 2022.
Vera Horton
Forum Secretary