Tochytskyi: Every fifth cultural figure who goes abroad does not return

Participants of the discussion: Ihor Liski, Maksym Holenko, Mykola Tochytskyi, Olena Kovalska, Nataliia Kryvda. Photo: Oleksandr Ratushniak

Every fifth cultural figure who goes abroad with the permission of the Ministry of Culture does not return to Ukraine.

This was stated by the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi during the discussion of the «New Country» project, organized by LB.ua and EFI Group.

According to the minister, every day he considers up to 100 applications for the departure of artists and the lack of a single base complicates this process.

«In recent years, a database should have been created that would regulate the departure of artists abroad. However, at the moment there is no such database, and every day I have to consider up to 100 applications for departure, most of which concern people whose names I do not know, and I have to spend time searching for information. I should also note that out of 5 of those who left, 1 does not return,» said Tochytskyi.

It was previously reported that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 46 Ukrainian servicemen have not returned from vacation abroad.

It was reported that conscripted women have the right to cross the border, border guards do not check whether they have updated their data.

Previously, the border service did not release more than 2,000 officials abroad.

We will remind that on January 27, 2023, the government prohibited officials from leaving Ukraine without valid reasons. Since then, people's deputies, government officials, representatives of local authorities, prosecutors, judges and many other officials can cross the state border on the basis of a business trip. It is also possible to go abroad for negotiations, for treatment, to care for minor children, but not for vacation.