Belarus bars Ukrainian writer over Russia 'terror' ban

Popular Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan said today he had been detained in ex-Soviet Belarus and ordered to leave on the basis of a Russian entry ban for "involvement in terrorism".

Zhadan, an acclaimed novelist and poet whose books have been widely translated, wrote on Facebook that Belarusian police told him Russia had barred him in 2015.

Belarus has a border agreement with neighbouring Russia, but Ukrainian citizens can visit either country without a visa.

The writer took part in pro-European protests that led to the ouster of Ukraine's Moscow-backed president in 2014 and was beaten up by pro-Russian activists.

Zhadan said Belarusian police -- working with the feared KGB special forces -- entered his hotel room as he slept at around 2 am on Saturday and took him into custody.

"It turns out that back in 2015 they banned me from entering Russia... for 'involvement in terrorist activity'," Zhadan said.

"Since Belarus and Kazakhstan are in the same visa zone -- unluckily for me -- the ban automatically applies to Belarus and Kazakhstan," he added.

Belarusian media published a photograph of Zhadan holding his passport with a stamp saying he is banned from entering Belarus and must leave by Sunday. It gives no expiry date for the ban.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to a request for comment from

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)