More than 70 Lithuanian companies exported dual-use goods to russia bypassing sanctions

More than 70 Lithuanian companies circumvented the sanctions by exporting dual-use goods to russia worth at least €130 million. This happened between March 2022 and August 2023.

Under the guise of exports to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and other states close to the Kremlin, Lithuanian companies shipped Western-made goods with potential military applications until Lithuania banned the transit of certain goods to third countries.

Microchips, bearings, antennas, capacitors, radio navigation devices, semiconductors, and other dual-use goods were supposed to be exported to third countries, but ended up in russia, Lithuanian journalists found out.

In particular, the Klaipeda-based transportation company Zetemzeja allegedly shipped American-made microchips.

And the logistics company Delamode Baltics, which in the past has provided services to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the State Border Guard Service, and the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, could have acted as an intermediary in at least ten shipments of dual-use goods to russia, the investigation said.

Delamode Baltics may have transported bearings, electronics, processors, and other equipment through Georgia, which the company denies.

According to the LRT, the alleged exporters include companies that have been operating without a director for five years, do not submit financial reports, and are in the process of liquidation.

Since November 2023, Lithuanian customs has tightened controls over the import of goods through Lithuania to russia and Belarus to prevent possible sanctions evasion. At the same time, the Lithuanian Seimas decided to impose fines for non-compliance with international sanctions.

Source: LRT