According to the analysis of information from open sources, it was possible to establish eight institutions for the detention of Ukrainian children on the territory of Belarus since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In addition, two places of accommodation under the auspices of the Belarusian Orthodox Church were identified, where minors from the occupied territories of Ukraine were transferred in 2015-2016.
It has been established that more than 3,000 Ukrainian children were displaced for “recreation, recovery, or rehabilitation” in 2021-2022. However, the final figure may be higher, considering, in particular, those displaced since 2015. Among minors are children aged 5-16, primarily orphans, deprived of parental care, children with disabilities, and those in difficult living conditions.
The program for the stay of Ukrainian children in the Republic of Belarus includes Russification (education in the Russian language, immersion in the space of the “Russkiy mir,” involvement in the traditions of Orthodoxy, etc.) and militarization (military-patriotic education, war propaganda, glorification of the exploits of the Soviet and Russian military, in particular, the participants of the so-called SMO).
High-ranking officials and people close to them in the Republic of Belarus, including relatives of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, are involved in the organization and conduct of the “recreation”. Financing of the programs takes place mainly from the budget of the Union State, as well as from the funds of large industrial entities of Belarus and Russian businessmen, donations from believers, and contributions to the Aleksey Talay Charitable Foundation, who heads the operational activities for the displacement of Ukrainian children. Pro-government non-profit organizations, state media, and collaborators in the occupied territories play their roles in this process.
The indoctrination, Russification, and militarization accompanying the deportation of minor citizens of Ukraine to the Republic of Belarus is a violation of the right to preserve identity, in particular, citizenship, the right to education, freedom of thought and conscience, and the principle of the best interests of the child. Specific components of “recreation” in Belarusian institutions have the characteristics of a war crime and a crime against humanity, and the policy itself testifies to the possible complicity of Belarus in committing genocide against the Ukrainian nation.
Read more about the transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus in the analytical report.
Цей проєкт створено Регіональним центром прав людини завдяки отриманому гранту від Програми «Підтримка організацій громадянського суспільства (ОГС)» в Україні у межах фінансової підтримки Міністерства закордонних справ і справ Співдружності націй та розвитку Великої Британії. Програма реалізується Crown Agents у партнерстві з International Alert і у співпраці з Crown Agents in Ukraine. Зміст публікації не обов’язково відображає погляди Міністерства закордонних справ і справ Співдружності націй та розвитку Великої Британії, погляди Crown Agents, International Alert та Crown Agents in Ukraine. Всю інформацію про критерії, допустимі витрати та вимоги до заявників можна знайти на https://www.facebook.com/UASupportCSO