Lithuania decided to tighten cargo control on the border with Russia

Lithuanian Customs has announced tightening controls on cargo at the border with Russia to ensure compliance with European sanctions, especially against those who have already tried to circumvent the restrictions, reported on the website of the department.

Now more employees, including those from other departments, will be engaged in inspection, and analytical control will be strengthened. In addition, shippers, recipients, carriers or customs brokers who have already attempted to circumvent sanctions in the past will be considered “high-risk” and will be screened with particular care.

“We see that attempts to circumvent sanctions are not decreasing, so we are taking additional measures. Those customs customers who, due to attempts to circumvent sanctions, were denied the continuation of customs procedures should not be surprised if the goods they will be transporting in the future are under a magnifying glass, said the head of customs Darius Zvironas.

The customs noted that since March 1, customs has not allowed more than 1,200 vehicles carrying goods registered in Russia and Belarus to enter the territory of the republic.

In mid-June, due to EU sanctions, Lithuania had already suspended the transit of some cargo to the Kaliningrad region from the rest of Russia. The country also stopped letting Russian trucks with goods through. According to the authorities of Kaliningrad, about 50% of transit came under restrictions.

On July 8, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the European Commission and Lithuania are obliged to solve the problem with the blockade of Kaliningrad, otherwise tough measures will be taken against the republic. Transit between the Kaliningrad region and other regions of the Russian Federation was restored on July 22, however, some restrictions remained.

On July 28, it became known that the Lithuanian Siauliai Bank, which services the transit of goods to the Kaliningrad region, from September 1 refuses to work with Russia. Almost a month later, on August 22, the Kaliningrad authorities found alternative payment mechanism for transit through Lithuania.

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