Lithuania to step up controls over re-export of sanctioned goods to Belarus, Russia

June 22, BPN. Next week, the Lithuanian Seimas economy committee is expected to decide on strengthening control over the enforcement of sanctions against Belarus and Russia, tv3.lt reported citing MP Kazys Starkevičius who chairs the committee.

Lithuanian MPs are concerned about a rise in reported evasion attempts and seek to halt the re-export of sanctioned goods to Belarus and Russia as well as discourage Lithuanian businesses from bypassing sanctions, he said.

In the first quarter of 2023, Lithuanian exports to Russia fell significantly but exports to Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan were on the rise, official statisticians say. The trend may indicate that Lithuania is used as a transit country for sanctioned goods transported to Belarus and Russia, Starkevičius said.

On June 16, Lithuania’s Economy Minister Aušrinė Armonaitė announced an intention to restrict the imports of dual-use goods to Belarus and Russia.

On June 5, Lithuanian Customs said it would tighten controls over exports to third countries to prevent sanctions evasion. It linked the move to an unusual rise in trade with certain third countries.