Lithuania wants to require Russian and Belarusian artists to sign an anti-war declaration
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed tightening the law on national sanctions by requiring Russian and Belarusian cultural figures who come to the country to give public performances to sign an anti-war declaration. If they refuse, they may be barred from entering the country.
The Foreign Ministry noted that recent public discussions have highlighted the need for clearer regulations governing the participation in public events by Russian and Belarusian citizens who support Russian aggression against Ukraine. This applies to events in the fields of culture, education, science, sports, the arts, and entertainment.
Under the proposed changes, Lithuania will deny entry to individuals who have performed in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, directly or indirectly supported the war, or participated in it.
The entry ban will also apply to those who support policies aimed at undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine, as well as individuals involved in gross human rights violations or repression against civil society and democratic forces in Russia and Belarus.
A key innovation of the bill is the requirement for Russian and Belarusian cultural figures to sign a declaration in which they condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine, affirm their support for the UN Charter, and recognize the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
It is envisaged that the signed declarations will be made publicly available. Refusal to sign them will constitute grounds for denying entry into Lithuania.
In addition, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposes restricting the right of Russian and Belarusian citizens who hold a residence permit in the country to purchase real estate near sites important to national security or military training grounds.
If approved by parliament, the new rules are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
This was reported by the BNS news agency, citing the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As a reminder, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed expanding national sanctions against citizens of Russia and Belarus. Among the initiatives are restrictions on the purchase of real estate near strategic facilities and a ban on entry for figures in the fields of culture, education, and sports who support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Latvia plans to remove road signs pointing toward Russia and Belarus.
