What are they afraid of? Another Russian singer was banned from entering Latvia

The Russian singer of Georgian origin Irakli Pirtskhalava is included in the list of undesirable persons for the Republic of Latvia. This was announced on the social network X by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Baiba Braje.

The decision was made in accordance with Article 61, part 2, of the Latvian Immigration Law. Entry into the country for the artist is prohibited indefinitely.

Irakli was scheduled to perform on August 2 at the Riga First Club.

"I am absolutely surprised! And is this your European freedom and tolerance? Why should we be tolerant only of LGBT people*? And to the artists who work in Russia, and in Georgia, and in other countries of the world? What are they afraid of, that's the question, " the artist told the <url> portal.

As reported by EADaily, in March 2022 Latvia banned the entry of 25 Russian cultural figures. The list includes Nikita Mikhalkov, Tina Kandelaki, Vladimir Mashkov, Stas Mikhailov and other Russian stars.

In May of the same year, Latvia banned Philip Kirkorov, Vladimir Vinokur, Yevgeny Petrosyan and Irina Viner-Usmanova from entering, declaring them persona non grata.

At the end of December last year it became known that Pirtskhalava was not allowed to enter Moldova. In February of this year, he was not allowed into the country again. Irakli concluded that "under this government, under this president" he would not be able to perform in Moldova.

*Extremist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation