Alla Smolyak, chairman of the Gomel regional branch of the Belarusian Red Cross (BRC), said on the state-run TV Channel “Belarus-1” program “Say, Don’t Be Silent” on February 20, that Belarus was accused of organ trafficking of Ukrainian children.
According to her, this was the reason for the suspension of the organization’s membership in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
“This is baseless, groundless. We had always been partners since 1995. <…> Since then there have never been any complaints against us. Well, it all started with a political background, with accusations against our country that we allegedly do not provide recovery for children, but do kidnap, sell organs, etc.,” she said.
In fact, according to the IFRC official statement, the suspension of membership is the result of the Belarusian organization’s failure to comply with the demand to fire Dmitry Shevtsov from the post of general secretary.
Before, alleged accusations of Belarus in black transplantation were aroused in the documentary “Donbas. Belarus is Nearby” by Anastasia Benedesyuk, the employee of the state-run TV channel “Belarus 1” . Here's what she said:
“Belarus is trying to fill their (Ukrainian children’s – ed.) lives with at least a little joy, comfort, and warmth. This has been especially criticized lately. They say we kidnap, sell for organs and eat. We don’t bring them home.”
In fact, the state of Belarus is accused of something else, namely that the country is violating international law. During international conflicts, children may be removed from occupied territories only with the consent of the country of which the children are citizens. Ukraine did not give such consent.
In July 2023, the BIC published its investigation “Children’s Special Operation” about persons engaged in the removal of Ukrainian kids. In it, we covered the story, among other things, how Ukrainian children were being ideologically brainwashed under the guise of recovery assistance in Belarus. In August 2023, Belarusian opposition politician Pavel Latushko said that he had provided Kyiv with information about orphans from Ukraine sent for adoption to Russia.
Belarus has been never accused of organ trafficking of Ukrainian children at the official level.