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Kiev bans Russian arts and culture figures from visiting Ukraine

Some 500 prominent Russian citizens backing Crimea's return to Russia and decentralization of government in Ukraine are said to have been blacklisted by the Interior Ministry

© ITAR-TASS/Valery Morev

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Kiev launches criminal case against Russian actor allegedly firing at Ukrainian troops

KIEV, November 26. /TASS/. Ukrainian authorities have banned 14 representatives of Russian arts and culture from visiting the country, Culture Minister Yevgen Nishchuk told local television channel "24".

Names were blacklisted for supporting Crimea's accession to Russia and for individuals' principled stance over conflict in the country's troubled east. They were identified by officials from the state security service, the foreign ministry and the prosecutor general's office.

The culture minister has named no one other than Russian actor Mikhail Porechenkov, who is under criminal prosecution in Ukraine. In earlier moves, the state cinematography agency banned all Porechenkov films from cinemas and television screens.

Popular Russian singer Iosif Kobzon was stripped of his Honorary Citizen of Dnipropetrovsk title in September, awarded in 1995. In October, Ivan Okhlobystin, Russian actor and screenwriter was denied entry.

Some 500 prominent Russian citizens backing Crimea's return to Russia and decentralization of government in Ukraine are said to have been blacklisted by the Interior Ministry and banned from visiting the country.

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