Poland rejects Belarusian lawmaker’s appeal against Schengen travel ban

January 30, Pozirk. Poland’s interior ministry has rejected an appeal by Valancin Bajko, a senior executive with the Hrodna-based hosiery manufacturer Conte Spa and a member of the Council of the Republic, against a Schengen travel ban.
The pro-government lawmaker described the sanctions as “out of proportion” and “discriminatory.”
He said that he did not pose a threat to Poland’s security because he had not been involved in law enforcement and security operations.
The Polish interior ministry argued that members of the Council of the Republic had been involved in passing legislation that expanded security agencies’ powers and guaranteed their impunity and restricted citizens’ rights to criticize the government and access information.
In addition, Bajko voted for legislation concerning history interpretation and minorities that has been used by the Belarusian regime to discredit Poland and Lithuania.
Bajko, deputy chairman of the Standing Committee on the Economy, Budget and Finance, has been a member of the upper chamber of the Belarusian National Assembly since 2019.
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