Poland has barred Russian propagandist Artemy Lebedev from entering the Schengen Area
Russian designer and propagandist Artemy Lebedev complained on social media that he was unable to obtain a Schengen visa due to the principled stance of the Republic of Poland. He submitted his application through the Greek diplomatic mission but received an official rejection.
The propagandist complained about this on his social media accounts.
According to Lebedev himself, it was the Polish side that categorically opposed his stay in the European Union. The propagandist claimed that due to the general rules of the Schengen Area and the inclusion of his data on relevant blacklists at Warsaw’s initiative, no other member state of the agreement now allegedly has the legal right to issue him an entry visa. The Russian concluded his post about his failed attempt to enter Europe with the popular Polish swear phrase “Bóbr kurwa.”
Restrictions on international travel and the confiscation of the individual’s property are a consequence of his long-standing anti-Ukrainian activities:
In 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree imposing personal sanctions against Artem Lebedev for a period of five years. The document provides for a complete freeze on his financial assets and a ban on conducting any economic transactions in the country.
The Security Service of Ukraine officially charged Lebedev under the article on justifying and denying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. SBU investigators established that in June 2022, the designer illegally entered the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar, which had been seized by Russian troops, where he was engaged in creating commissioned propaganda materials.
In July 2023, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) fully granted the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine’s petition for the compulsory seizure of the propagandist’s assets. Two luxury apartments in central Kyiv were confiscated and transferred to the State Property Fund of Ukraine for subsequent privatization.
