Belarussian official turned away at Lithuanian border

VILNIUS -- A high ranking Belurussian official has been denied entrance into Lithuania as the Baltic state faces increased criticism over its relationship with the country.

Deputy Justice Minister Alla Bodak was turned away at the Lithuanian border last week. She had been issued a Lithuanian visa despite being on the Schengen zone's "black list".

“Officers of the State Border Guard Service demonstrated their alertness and barred Belarusian Justice Vice-Minister Alla Bodak from entering Lithuania’s territory and escorted her back to the Belarusian border,” the Interior Minister Raimundas Palaitis told journalists on Friday.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The move comes amid a storm of international criticism over Lithuania's handing over to Belarus authorities the bank account information of a prominent human rights activist.

Lithuania's Justice Ministry asked banks to give Belarus the account information of prominent human rights activist Ales Byalyatski, who was then arrested in his home country for tax evasion. 

Lithuania has a long record of supporting the fight for human rights in Belarus. Also last week human rights activist Natallya Radzina, who faces a lengthy prison sentence in Belarus, applied for asylum in Lithuania.