The embarrassment of being disinvited: many of us have experienced it upon learning that we’re no longer welcome to an event. But earlier this month a more public disinvitation, one of vastly larger consequence, took place in Brussels. A European Parliament delegation led by Gabrielius Landsbergis, a young member from Lithuania, learned that it would no longer be welcome to Moscow. As the Parliament’s rapporteur for Russia, Landsbergis essentially functions as the legislative body’s point person in relations with Moscow. The revocation followed a cordial invitation by Russia’s ambassador to the EU last November; back in those somewhat happier days, Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov had promised Landbergis’s group all the assistance they required and had offered to set up meeting with Russian officials.
But it was not to be. In a phone call, Landsbergis was informed that in light of recent actions by the European Parliament, no visits would be arranged and that his visit would not be an official one. Russia may, of course, just have been miffed with the European Parliament. On the other hand, its turnabout may be a further sign that the Kremlin distinguishes between friends in European politics—such as Jobbik leader Gabor Vona—who are given access in Moscow, and “others,” who may now have to work harder for access. Be nicer and we’ll see you, seems to be the Russian message.Groups of legislators visit foreign countries all the time: countries their home country is closely affiliated with, countries it’s neutral with, and even countries it doesn’t like all that much. Had young Landsbergis—the grandson of Vytautas Landsbergis, Lithuania’s first post-independence president—and his two travel companions been able to visit Moscow as planned, the meetings would have required minimal efforts by the Kremlin. Receiving delegations, after all, is mostly a diplomatic courtesy.
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