Lithuania moves to bar Belarusian and Russian artists linked to occupied Ukraine
Lithuania's cabinet approved a draft law that would prohibit Belarusian and Russian performers who have worked in occupied Ukrainian regions from appearing in the country.
On Wednesday, Lithuania's government endorsed a draft amendment that would forbid Belarusian and Russian artists, as well as other cultural personalities, from staging performances in Lithuania if they have worked in territories occupied or annexed by Russia in Ukraine. The measure extends to individuals who have directly or indirectly aided Russia's war effort, and it obliges them to sign a publicly available declaration denouncing the aggression and affirming support for Ukraine's borders.
Refusal to sign would bar them from any cultural activity in the country. The amendment still requires approval by the Seimas before becoming law, with a planned start date of January 1 next year. Lithuania has already barred several performers known to support Vladimir Putin's regime or who have performed in Russia or Crimea.
Why it matters
The ban signals Lithuania's tough stance on cultural figures supporting Russia's invasion, affecting cross-border artistic exchanges.
In this story
