Lithuania said on Monday it had asked the International Criminal Court to probe Belarus for alleged crimes against humanity in a crackdown on opposition following a disputed presidential election.
The Baltic nation has become a refuge for tens of thousands of Belarusians who left their homeland after the authorities in Minsk violently suppressed 2020 protests against President Alexander Lukashenko accused of rigging the election.
Lithuania "can no longer sit idly by whilst crimes against humanity continue to be committed on a vast scale in Belarus, the neighbouring country", Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska said in a statement.
Although Belarus is not under the ICC's jurisdiction, Lithuania said Minsk's repressions were also "committed on the territory of Lithuania, bringing such crimes... within the jurisdiction of the Court".
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan confirmed in a statement he had received the request to investigate.
He said his office would carry out a preliminary examination to look into Lithuania's request but added the referral did not automatically lead to the opening of an investigation.
However, Lithuania's Justice Minister said she expected the ICC to issue a warrant for Belarus's strongman president.
"We do expect arrest warrant for Lukashenko," Dobrowolska said.
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya -- who claimed victory over Lukashenko in the 2020 vote -- was among the many to flee Belarus in the election's aftermath.