Lithuania to ban performances by artists who have performed in occupied Ukrainian territories

The Lithuanian government has approved a proposal to ban Belarusian and Russian artists and other cultural figures from performing in Lithuania if they have worked in occupied or annexed territories of Ukraine.

Source: LRT, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda

Details: The ban would also apply to individuals who have directly or indirectly supported Russia's war against Ukraine. The government has not yet defined the specific criteria, and the amendment still needs to be approved by parliament.

The restrictions will not apply to individuals who have "clearly acted against aggression, occupation or annexation, publicly demonstrated their opposition to these actions and whose activities objectively did not contribute to the implementation of the interests of the occupying authorities".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed that artists and cultural figures should be required to sign a public declaration condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine and expressing support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Refusal to sign will strip them of the right to carry out their professional activities in Lithuania.

If approved by the Seimas (the Lithuanian parliament), the amendments will enter into force on 1 January next year.

Up until now, Lithuania has made decisions on a case-by-case basis, barring several artists who support Vladimir Putin's regime and have performed in Russia or Crimea from entering the country.

Background:

• In June, the Moldovan Ministry of Culture published a list of artists from post-Soviet countries whose participation in concerts and performances in Moldova is not recommended.
• Latvia's National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) has reportedly proposed a ban on music by sanctioned artists being broadcast on Latvian radio stations.

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