Alyaksandr Lukashenka has insisted on removing the entry ban Belarus imposed on Olga Kurachova and Veronika Nikulshina, members of the Russian protest punk rock group Pussy Riot.
According to Ms Kurachova, the woman who introduced herself as Natallya Kachanava, Head of Belarus’ presidential administration, phoned her and offered apologies.
“We keep monitoring the situation in the country, and Alyaksandr Hryhoryevich, our president learned about the incident <…> So, you know, we have no issues with you. We saw it in the papers, and our president said: “Oh God, what is going on? Do we have problems with them? There are no problems!” That is why I am calling you,” Mediazona quotes Kurachova’s interlocutor.
According to her, Belarusian agencies ‘overworked’ and became too wary.
On June 17, Olga Kurachova and Veronika Nikulshina were informed of their being banned from entering Belarus. The Belarusian authorities failed to give reasons for the denial. It might have been caused by the upcoming European Games that will be held in Minsk in June 21-30.
During the 2018 World Cup final match in Moscow, four Pussy Riot activists dressed in uniforms held a protest action ‘Policeman Coming Into Play’: they ran out to the playing field urging the Russian authorities to release political prisoners and stop political persecution.
