Kiev to Blacklist Russian Culture Figures

Aug. 4, 2014

About 500 Russian artists and cultural figures who will be banned from entering the country for having supported Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine announced Monday that it was preparing a list of some 500 Russian artists and cultural figures who will be banned from entering the country for having supported Russia's annexation of Crimea.

"I believe it is right not to allow them [Russian artists who spoke out in favor of the annexation] to earn money at concerts and performances in Ukraine," Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the head of Ukraine's Interior Ministry, wrote on his Facebook page Monday.

Ukraine's announcement follows Latvia's blacklisting last month of Russian pop stars Valeriya, Joseph Kobzon and Oleg Gazmanov for their stance on the crisis in Ukraine. The three performers were barred from entering the country to perform at the annual New Wave festival held in the resort city of Jurmala in late July.

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