Klaipeda councillor vows to demand for investigation over expelled Latvians

Klaipeda City Municipality Councillor Viacheslav Titov vowed to write a letter to the interior minister demanding to launch an investigation into why three Latvian citizens were included in the persona non grata list.

Interior Minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Wednesday that he had not received the letter yet. According to the minister, there is a clear legal basis how people are included in the persona non grata list, while officers of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) are responsible for sending such people from Lithuania, as happened in this case.

The minister could not confirm if one of the Latvians was included on the list only upon arrival in Lithuania. According to Skvernelis, it does not matter when the person's name is entered, if he is on the list then he may be denied access. The minister added that the state does not explain the reasons behind prohibiting entry.

As reported, Lithuania asked three citizens of Latvia to leave the country. They had arrived to take part in a forum in Klaipeda. Among them are, Josifs Korens, one of the most active members of the "Latvian anti-fascist committee", Aleksandrs Kuzmins, aid to MEP Tatjana Zdanoka, and historian Aleksandrs Rzavins.