Östgruppen’s Chair Martin Uggla is not allowed to enter Belarus on the eve of 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship
Martin Uggla in the airport “Minsk-2”
Chair of Swedish human rights organisation Östgruppen Martin Uggla who was going to visit Belarus has been detained in the transit zone of the National Airport “Minsk-2”. The border guards informed him verbally that he is prohibited from entering Belarus, but they continued to consult with their commanders.
***
As it became known to human rights defenders, the border guards advised Uggla to buy a return ticket for today or to wait in a transit zone until Sunday as he already has a return ticket for that date.
In January, Martin wrote in his blog that Belarusian visas and accreditations are not beneficial for the Ice Hockey championship because foreign journalists wishing to receive accreditation to the tournament to be held this year in May would have to cover sport events only. “All those journalists who want to cover topics that are not related to the Ice Hockey Championship shall apply for accreditation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country. This is a much more complicated and bureaucratized process.”
It is quite obvious that far from every foreign citizen wishing to attend the Ice Hockey Championship in Minsk will be able to do it.
