You're reading: Belarusian gets ax for the hammer and sickle

VILNIUS, Lithuania — A Belarusian man was not allowed to enter Lithuania in his Porsche because a hammer-and-sickle — the indelible symbol of the Soviet Union — was stickered on the car's hood.

Displaying Nazi or
Soviet symbols is illegal in Lithuania, a former Soviet republic that
was occupied by the communist regime for a half-century but regained
independence in 1991.

Lithuania’s state border guard says the
26-year-old man had a valid passport and visa but was told he could only
enter Lithuania by foot or bus. The car would have to remain behind.

Border
guard spokesman Rokas Pukinskas said Tuesday the man chose to drive
back to Belarus, where Soviet symbols are still fashionable.

Lithuania
passed a law in 2008 prohibiting the public display of Soviet symbols,
including military uniforms and the Soviet anthem. Violators face fines
of up to 1,000 litas ($350).