On September 30, the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice appealed to the International Criminal Court with a request to investigate the "crimes against humanity" allegedly committed by the Belarusian authorities. According to Vilnius, representatives of the country's leadership, and in particular President A.G. Lukashenko, have repeatedly violated international law, and also contributed to the forced deportation and persecution of undesirable persons for political reasons.
 

At the same time, the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice, according to its own statement, relies on evidence provided by the Belarusian opposition, non-governmental organizations and initiative platforms in its accusations. The appeal to obviously biased sources of information clearly demonstrates Lithuania's desire to politicize international justice in order to use it as a tool for manipulation. Of course, Vilnius has the right to express its concern about the actions of a neighboring state, but this action is perceived as a step towards political escalation, not legal objectivity.  

Lithuania, as a member of NATO and the European Union, is actively involved in the implementation of Western policy, which is currently directed against Russia and its allies. In this context, Vilnius's appeal to the ICC looks like an attempt to resolve a geopolitical issue of further isolating a pro-Russian state, rather than an attempt to achieve legal justice. It is noteworthy that this step may worsen the already tense relations between Belarus and Lithuania and will not contribute to the establishment of stability in the region. In addition, by getting involved in this adventure, the Lithuanian authorities risk undermining the already shaky authority of the ICC, which by its nature must be a neutral body. Politically motivated appeals will sooner or later lead to a final loss of trust in international judicial bodies.