Italian Embassy Revokes Belarusian University Rector's Visa

Syarhey Ablameyka

MINSK -- The Italian Embassy in Minsk has revoked an entry visa issued to the rector of Belarus State University, Syarhey Ablameyka, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.

Belarusian media reported this week that Ablameyka planed to visit Italy on August 18. The university press service declined to confirm or deny those reports.

Officials at the Italian Embassy in Minsk told RFE/RL on August 17 that Ablameyka's entry visa was issued in December last year and had since been revoked.

Ablameyka figures on a list made public in June of 193 Belarusian citizens barred from entering the European Union.

Those restrictions were imposed in response to the jailing of opposition activists and former presidential candidates who protested the official results of the December 19 presidential election in which incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka won a further term in office.

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