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70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

Lithuania denies entry to bikers from Russia and Belarus

Four bikers lacked documents to confirm the purpose of their presence in Lithuania

Russian bikers in Brest EPA/TASS/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

Russian bikers in Brest

© EPA/TASS/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

VILNIUS, April 29. /TASS/. Lithuania has denied permission to four bikers from Russia and Belarus to cross into the Lithuanian territory despite Schengen visas issued to the bikers. The press service of the Lithuanian border guards circulated a statement on Wednesday, citing absence of documents to confirm the purpose of the presence of the four bikers on the Lithuanian territory, including technical maintenance certificates, as the reason.

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"Two bikers from Russia and two bikers from Belarus were not allowed to cross the state border at the Medininkai and Salcininkai border check points on Tuesday evening, " spokesman for the Lithuanian Border Guard Service Giedrius Misutis confirmed. "Apart from the visa, the border guards might ask for other documents, such as a voucher for accommodation in Lithuania, a voucher for tourist services, an invitation from friends or relatives or other documents," the spokesman told TASS.

On April 27 the Lithuanian authorities turned away a group of eight bikers with Russian license plates, with possible members of the Night Wolves bikers' club.

A Moscow-Berlin marathon devoted to the 70th anniversary of victory in WWII, set off from Moscow on April 25 to pay homage to Soviet soldiers who were killed in action when liberating European states from Nazi occupants. The bikers were to cross the territory of Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic before a final stopover in Berlin on May 9, which was to crown their mission.

But, on April 27 the bikers were denied permission to cross into Poland. The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded explanations from Poland and resolutely condemned Warsaw’s act.

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Lithuania 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

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