Lithuania Moves to Ban Russian, Belarusian Artists Who Performed in Occupied Ukraine

Lithuania's government has approved a proposal to ban Russian and Belarusian artists and cultural figures from performing in the country if they had previously worked in occupied or annexed Ukrainian territories, according to Lithuanian media LRT. The ban would also cover any individual who has directly or indirectly supported Russia's war against Ukraine, but exemptions would be granted to those who have "clearly acted against aggression, occupation or annexation."

The amendment still needs approval from Lithuania's parliament, the Seimas, and would take effect on January 1, 2027. The government has not yet outlined the specific criteria for determining who would fall under the ban. In a similar move, Lithuania has also banned Russian and Belarusian nationals from owning property near strategic sites, although exemptions would apply to those who acquired ownership through inheritance.

This decision follows similar actions taken by Finland and Latvia, who have restricted property purchases by Russian and Belarusian citizens, exempting those with residence permits. Estonia is also working on comparable legislation. To enforce the ban on artists and cultural figures, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry proposed that they sign a publicly available declaration condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine and supporting its territorial integrity.

Refusal to sign would result in complete prohibition from working in Lithuania. However, signing such a declaration could pose significant risks for Russian citizens, as Russia has prosecuted civilians for anti-war statements and taken action against its only registered liberal party. There have also been reports of Russian citizens facing criminal charges in other countries for their views on the war.