Lithuania said on Monday it will ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Belarus over "forcible deportation, persecution and other cruel behaviour" against its own citizens. The action was announced by Lithuania's justice ministry and drew immediate support from exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

The Lithuanian justice ministry said earlier in the day it was asking the ICC "to open an investigation... into the crimes against humanity committed by Lukashenko's regime - forced deportation, persecution of persons and other cruel behaviour which is contrary to the main norms of international law".