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European NGOs urge Lithuania to lift entry bans on two Belarusian anti-nuke activists

Representatives of European NGOs, at a forum in Stockholm on November 30, called on Lithuania to lift its entry bans on two Belarusian campaigners against nuclear power plants.

In September, Tatsyana Novikava and Mikalay Ulasevich were turned away at the Lithuanian border and told that they were on the Baltic country's entry ban list.

Lithuanian border guards referred to the government's order that said that the pair "threaten the national security of the Republic of Lithuania." In addition, the order said that Ms. Novikava, a coordinator of the Belarusian Anti-nuclear Campaign, also threatened the security of more EU states.

A statement adopted at the meeting of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum condemned the Lithuanian government's decision as politically motivated.

The statement is to be sent to Vilnius, as well as to the European Commission and other EU institutions.

Ms. Novikava and Mr. Ulasevich have already filed appeals against the entry bans.

Lithuanian lawyer Vidas Vilkas, who represents both activists, has failed to learn on what grounds they have been barred from Lithuania. Authorities have explained that the information is a "state secret."

When reached by BelaPAN, Ms. Novikava linked the entry ban to Lithuania's referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant, which took place on October 14.

A majority of Lithuanian voters voted against the project in the plebiscite. //BelaPAN