The Kremlin allowed the filing of a WTO lawsuit against Lithuania due to transit restrictions

Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that it is necessary to work out the prospect of filing a claim with the World Trade Organization (WTO) for losses from Lithuanian restrictions on transit to the Kaliningrad region.

“As for the judicial prospects, of course, this will first have to be carefully weighed, worked out from the point of view of lawyers, legal experts in order to plan possible steps in the best possible way,” the Kremlin spokesman said (quoted by TASS).

He added that the federal center has always supported and will continue to support the regions. “As for Kaliningrad, there is a special relationship here, because the region has a special position due to geography,” the presidential press secretary noted.

Governor Anton Alikhanov December 13 informedthat the regional authorities are preparing calculations for the Ministry of Economy of the Russian Federation in order to sue Lithuania in the WTO. He stated that as part of the lawsuit, compensation could be demanded “or, if they do not lift these restrictions, introduce their measures completely legally, on all legal grounds.”

Restrictions on Kaliningrad transit have been in effect since June 18. Lithuania has banned the transport of goods subject to EU sanctions through its territory to the Kaliningrad region. Later, the European Commission published clarifications stating that the ban only applies to motor vehicles. Rail transit is possible but controlled.

Read more about the problem of Kaliningrad transit in the material “Kommersant” “Your rail is canceled”.