Lithuanian MFA: Makei will be invited in Vilnius

Visa restrictions may be lifted from Uladzmir Makei for the period of his staying on as foreign minister of Belarus.

This statement was made by Lithuanian foreign minister Andrius Krivas, Polskie Radio reports. He noted Uladzimir Makei could visit the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.

“Belarusian foreign minister Uladzimir Makei, who is subject to the EU visa ban, can take part in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Eastern Partnership participants scheduled for July 22 in Brussels,” Andrius Krivas said.

He said visa sanctions against Makei could be suspended for the period of Makei's staying in office as foreign minister.

Minister of foreign affairs of Belarus, like other officials and oligarchs, is banned from entering the European Union and the US due to repression. Some European officials already said that Makei might be allowed entering the EU. This idea was criticised both by Belarusian opposition and influential human rights groups.

Uladzimir Makei, with his image of the main “liberal” among Belarusian officials, earlier worked in security services. He stands behind the provocation on December 19, 2010, and subsequent provocations. If it was KGB chief Stsiapan Sukharenka, who scared protesters against the 2006 rigged elections, in 2010, head of Lukashenka's administration Makei threatened participants of protests with terrorist attacks.