Lithuanian Parliament to Consider Ban on Artists Working in Russia, Belarus
Lithuania's parliament will debate a proposal on Tuesday to ban foreign cultural and entertainment figures who have performed in Russia or Belarus since February 24, 2022, from entering the country for up to five years. The draft, previously rejected in April, has been reintroduced largely unchanged.
The Lithuanian parliament is set to consider a legislative proposal on Tuesday that would bar foreign nationals engaged in cultural, concert, or entertainment activities in Russia, Belarus, or their occupied territories after February 24, 2022, from entering Lithuania for up to five years.
The draft law was initially rejected at the submission stage in April but has been reintroduced in a nearly identical form. Current entry bans in Lithuania only apply to individuals convicted of serious crimes, human rights violations, corruption, or money laundering.
The country's Ministry of Justice has criticized the proposal, warning that it could violate European Union law by not providing for individual case assessments. The ministry suggested incorporating such measures into a separate sanctions law related to the war in Ukraine.
Lithuania has already barred several performers seen as supportive of the Russian government, including rapper Gio Pika. The Migration Department had previously blacklisted Alisher Morgenstern, though a court later overturned that decision.
