(a) whether any cases of protest and raising anti-India slogans by the
foreigner(s) against the stringent Indian visa rules have come to the
notice of the Government;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by his Ministry in this regard and the seriousness
with which the government there has viewed this incident?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SMT. PRENEET KAUR)
(a) & (b) A group of women belonging to the Ukrainian activist group “Femenâ€
climbed into the balcony of the Embassy Residence in Kyiv on 18th January 2012
and protested against the alleged tightening of visa procedures for Ukrainian
women by unfurling banners with anti-India slogans, throwing down the Indian
flag and raising anti-India slogans. The Ukrainian authorities were immediately
informed about the incident and the activists were detained.
(c) The Government of India immediately instructed the Mission to take
up the matter with the Ukrainian authorities to take appropriate action so as
to prevent the recurrence of such an event. The Government of Ukraine expressed
its regrets at the incident and has conveyed that criminal proceedings have been
initiated against the activists under the Criminal Code of Ukraine.