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KGB chairman to travel to Rome despite EU entry ban

Vadzim Zaytsaw, chairman of the Committee for State Security (KGB) who is subject to the European Union’s entry ban, is expected to travel to Rome on business, news site charter97.org said with reference to a directive signed by the prime minister on February 29.

The directive said nothing about the date of the planned visit.

Mr. Zaytsaw has been barred from the EU territory for his role in the Belarusian government’s crackdown on political opponents. However, the Belarusians blacklisted by the EU still can travel to the 27-nation bloc when invited by an international organization.

In January this year, Belarusian Interior Minister Anatol Kulyashow, who is also on the EU blacklist, visited France to attend an Interpol meeting at the world police body’s headquarters in the eastern city of Lyon.

A prominent French human rights lawyer filed a request for his arrest with a court in Paris, but Mr. Kulyashow was allowed to leave France. The French authorities explained that a foreigner staying in the country at the invitation of an international organization has diplomatic immunity and may not be arrested. //BelaPAN