Belarusian MFA bans entry to Belarusian emigrants
The unofficial ban spreads on
all who demonstrate a critical attitude towards Aliaksandr
Lukashenka. Yauhen Vapa and Alena Hlahouskaya from Poland have been
denied Belarusian issues recently. These days the same happened to
the head of the Belarusian Culture Society in Vilnius Khvedar
Niunka.
The visa denial to Mr. Niunka was issued on 6 December
at the Belarusian Embassy in Vilnius. Khvedar Niunka was invited to
Belarus by the World Association of Belarusians “Batskaushchyna”
At
first Mr. Niunka received a telephone call from the Embassy and
invited for a meeting for receiving a visa. However, when he came
there it was found that he could be given only a three-month visa and
whereas for a one-year visa it was necessary to present additional
documents confirming cooperation of the Belarusian Culture Society in
Vilnius and “Batskaushchyna”. Mr. Niunka filed such documents,
but on 6 December the Embassy officers told him he was denied visa.
“I came to Belarus last time two years ago on a single
entry visa, during the period of liberalization which ended with
Square-2010,” says Khvedar Niunka.
“We consider the visa
denial to Khedar Niunka in one line with the visa denials to other
key persons of the Belarusian Diaspora – Yauhen Vapa and Alena
Hlahouskaya, which can witnesses at a systemic approach of the
Belarusian MFA. We don't know whether the people who stand behind
such decisions are conscious of the possible consequences. We think
that in case it is a conscious and consequent position of MFA, it can
lead to the inspiration of an artificial division of Belarusians into
“loyal” and “disloyal” ones. We will strive for the
reconsideration of these decisions which doubtlessly do harm to the
Belarusian movement outside Belarus,” says the head of the
“Batskaushchyna” Alena Makouskaya.
Khvedar Niunka has
headed the Belarusian Culture Society in Lithuania for more than 20
years already. He is also a member of the Council of the Belarusian
People's Republic – successor of the state formation that existed
on the territory of Belarus for a short time before it became a part
of the USSR.
