Olof Palme Center Representative Not Let in Belarus

In the night of 11-12 November the border guards of Minsk airport without any explanations didn’t allow a representative of Olof Palme International Center in Stockholm, Natasha Alekseyeva to enter Belarus.

N.Alekseyeva, who has visited Minsk twice in 2007, has arrived to Minsk as a representative of Swedish organization Verdandi for planning together with Belarusian Social Democrats and representatives of the Belarusian civil society a joint program for assistance to Homel and Svetlahorsk dwellers addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Natasha Alekseyeva, a Russian citizen, visited Belarus several dozens of times. In the framework of agreements existing between the Russian Federation and Belarus, citizens of both countries can cross the border without special permissions and visas.

Natasha Alekseyeva has never had any problems with Belarusian authorities. For more than 10 years she has been visiting Belarus, where she has many friends and acquaintances in many public organizations and political parties. Last time she visited a Congress of the Democratic Forces in Belarus in the end of May 2007 on invitation of a member of Swedish parliament Tune Tinsgord.