Vilnius mayor supports proposal to ban pro-Russian artists from entering Lithuania

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas has expressed support for a parliamentary proposal to ban pro-Russian performers from entering Lithuania, as reported by LRT.

In a Facebook post, Benkunskas stated that Lithuania must protect itself not only from physical aggression but also create legal barriers against Russia’s soft power. He called the proposal a step in the right direction, though he noted that further votes would be required.

“For a long time, I have said that we need to build systemic resilience in this area. We cannot live in a way where municipalities have to address such cases individually, turning to national institutions one by one when ticket sales are already underway,” Benkunskas wrote.

The Seimas recently approved amended legal proposals by Vytautas Kernagis to prohibit entry to Lithuania for artists and entertainers who have performed in Russia, Belarus, or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories since February 24, 2022. If adopted, the ban would apply for five years.

The proposal aligns with Lithuania’s National Security Strategy, which identifies Russia and Belarus as threats to national security.