Ukraine's Security Service bans entry of 140 Russian cultural figures
The Security Service of Ukraine has denied entry to 140 Russian cultural figures, as stated in an official reply from the Security Service, which the Verkhovna Rada Deputy from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, Olga Chervakova, cited in a social network.
The punitive measure is a result of activities and statements by the Russian artists that are contrary to the interests of its neighboring country.
"The Security Service of Ukraine has banned about 140 Russian cultural figures from entering the country, including a retroactive ban for about 50 of them starting on December 3, 2015 to the present day", says the document of October 29, 2016.
"Hopefully, this will put an end to the discussion about the complete idleness of the intelligence service in this area, as well as the discussion about the need to introduce bills to parliament that are not going to change anything anyway," the MP said, commenting on the security service's reply.
Earlier, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine published a list of 83 Russian and world cultural figures, who, according to authorities, pose a threat to national security. The "black list" includes Oleg Gazmanov, Iosif Kobzon, Sergey Bezrukov, Mikhail Boyarsky, Nikolay Rastorguev, Ivan Okhlobystin, Mikhail Porechenkov, Grigory Leps, Vladimir Bortko, Pavel Lungin, Alexander Rosenbaum, Vasily Lanovoy, Dmitry Kharatyan, Oleg Tabakov, Natalya Varley and others.
The "white" list includes Liya Akhedzhakova, Oleg Basilashvili, Valentin Gaft, Yuri Shevchuk, Andrey Makarevich and Zemfira.