Ukrainian media adviser prohibited entering Belarus
On March 20 Oleg Khomenok was not allowed entering Belarus.
The Parliamentary Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine formally requires the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to protest against the actions of Belarus.
BBC Ukraine has been informed about that by a committee member, the member of “BYT-Fatherland” faction Andriy Shevchenko.
“We urge the Minister to assess the action of the Ukrainian Embassy in Belarus, which has not provided any assistance to Oleg Khomenok, as well as to protest against the actions of the Belarusian border guards,” said Shevchenko.
Members of the Committee on Issues of Freedom of Expression and Information have written three official letters – to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, to the Committee on Foreign Affairs issues and the Belarusian Embassy to Ukraine, Shevchenko told. MPs demand explanations on what reasons and for which period Khomenok is banned from Belarus. Besides, MPs demand answer to the question whether there is a list of persons banned from visiting Belarus, and explain a procedure of lifting such bans.
As BBC Ukraine was told by Oleg Khomenok, he went to Belarus in order to give consultations to the local publishing house. During passport control in Minsk he found out that he is on the list of persons banned from entering Belarus, and in the evening of the same day, March 20, he was sent back to Kyiv by a plane. As said by Khamenok, an employee of Ukrainain Embassy in Belarus told him on the phone that he was not able to help him in any way.
Oleg Khomenok is a member of the public council at the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Expression and Information, a board member of the Institute of the regional press and media adviser to Internews Network. The activities of the latter organization are banned on the territory of Belarus. However, according to the media expert, his trip had nothing to do with Internews Network; its purpose was to personally advise the local publishing house.
