Several Lithuanian ministries are considering the possibility of legislatively banning citizens of Russia and Belarus from participating in international scientific and sports events taking place in Lithuania.
This is reported by “European Truth” with reference to LRT.
In particular, the Minister of Education, Raminta Popovene, said that in May, her department submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a proposal for additional restrictions preventing the participation of citizens of the aggressor countries in international educational, scientific, educational and sports events held in Lithuania.
“Now these discussions are going on in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our proposals have been submitted, and we will see what decision will be made,” she said.
In April, the sports community sent an appeal to the country’s leadership and state institutions with a request to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in sports competitions held in Lithuania.
According to the Lithuanian sports community, such a ban enshrined in legislation would provide the country’s sports federations and organizations with the necessary legal protection in communication with international organizations.
This would rule out the suggestion that the decision is based on personal or organizational discrimination – the ban would be based on national security issues and legislation.
Last year, the Lithuanian Football Federation sought to prevent the Belarusian national team from participating in the European Futsal Championship organized in the country.
Currently, the recommendations of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports are in effect, in which national sports organizations are urged not to invite and not allow citizens of the aggressor countries to participate in competitions and events in Lithuania.
If athletes from these countries do participate in the competition, they are obliged to sign an official declaration in advance, in which they unequivocally condemn military actions and express support for Ukraine.
In addition, at international competitions held in Lithuania, Russian and Belarusian athletes are prohibited from wearing or displaying their countries’ flags, symbols or any identifying marks.
It was also reported that they offer it in Lithuania implement a ban entry into the country for a period of five years for artists who performed in Russia or Belarus.
Last November, Lithuania too added to the blacklist Russian rapper Alisher Morgenstern. He challenged the ban in court, but his appeal was upheld rejected.
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