Russian-Lithuanian vocalist Kristina Orbakaitė and Serbian-Croatian musician Goran Bregović were included on the list of "personae non gratae" in Latvia, as reported by Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis. This means that concerts scheduled in Latvia this summertime will besides should be cancelled. Both musicians were placed on the list on the advice of the State safety Service (VDD).
"The basic reason is to support aggression against Ukraine, participation in public events in occupied territories. We as Latvia support Ukraine and will proceed to do so, so this is definitely unacceptable to us," the Minister stressed.
According to VDD information, Bregović has appeared respective times in occupied Crimea since 2014. The musician frequently expressed his support for Russia in public, while spreading discrediting news aboutWestern countries. Orbakaitė has besides performed in Crimea since the business and participated in various Russian propaganda events.
"In the view of the VDD, performances in Latvia by those who support Russian aggression are not in the interest of the national safety of our country, as they can advance interethnic tensions in Latvian society," said VDD. Musicians were scheduled to execute in Latvia this summertime and tickets were sent to sales. The concerts will most likely be cancelled now. VDD and the Ministry of the Interior call on performance organizers to carefully measure invited artists — if a individual is present in Russia or in occupied territories in Ukraine, this is considered to support Russian aggression and war crimes. Last year at the request of the safety services there were 480 foreigners on the Latvian entry ban list.
Source: LSM.lv
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