Outspoken Russian Actor Banned From Estonia
The Estonian Ministry of the Interior declared Russian actor and TV host Ivan Okhlobystin persona non grata a few days before he was due to perform in Tallinn.
The ministry declined to comment on the reason and length of the ban.
Latvia, which also blacklisted Okhlobystin, said he incited hate between nationalities. Latvia’s Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics tweeted last week that he would issue the entry ban on Okhlobystin, due to statements which he assessed “as ethnic hatred.” The Estonia's Ministry of Interior initially declined to comment on whether they would follow the example of their Latvian colleagues, but confirmed today that the notorious actor is banned from entering Estonia. Ukraine has also banned the actor.
Okhlobystin has voiced support for the pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, and last year suggested that all gay people should be burned alive, the Moscow Times said.