Over €130 million worth of equipment used in the arms industry has been exported to Russia through Lithuania, an investigation by Lithuanian journalists has found.
Reporters at Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT found that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, by circumnavigating sanctions imposed on Moscow, the dual-purpose appliances were sent via Lithuanian companies to supply Russia with components used in missiles and satellite devices.
The goods that arrived in Lithuania via Russia-friendly countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, were then sent on to Moscow by Lithuanian companies.
According to the report by LRT: “Lithuanian companies involved in export programs do not feel responsible, claiming that they did not know that dual-use goods and technologies would ultimately go to Russia.”
Arunas Adomenas, senior adviser to the Lithuanian Customs Service, told LRT: “The European Union does not prohibit the sending of such goods to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia… if they are placed on the market in these countries. ”
“However, no one knows or controls where they may be transported next.”
Lithuania imposed sanctions banning the transport of certain dual-use goods to third countries through its territory in 2023.
The goods that arrived in Lithuania via Russia-friendly countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, were then sent on to Moscow by Lithuanian companies.
According to the report by LRT: “Lithuanian companies involved in export programs do not feel responsible, claiming that they did not know that dual-use goods and technologies would ultimately go to Russia.”
Arunas Adomenas, senior adviser to the Lithuanian Customs Service, told LRT: “The European Union does not prohibit the sending of such goods to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia… if they are placed on the market in these countries. ”
“However, no one knows or controls where they may be transported next.”
Lithuania imposed sanctions banning the transport of certain dual-use goods to third countries through its territory in 2023.
Source: PAP/LRT
