Lithuania says sanctions on goods to Kaliningrad take effect

By Andrius Sytas

VILNIUS (Reuters) -Lithuanian authorities stated a ban on the transit by their territory to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad of products which might be topic to EU sanctions was to take impact from Saturday.

Information of the ban got here on Friday, by a video posted by the area’s governor Anton Alikhanov.

The EU sanctions record notably contains coal, metals, building supplies and superior know-how, and Alikhanov stated the ban would cowl round 50% of the gadgets that Kaliningrad imports.

Its quick begin was confirmed by the cargo arm of Lithuania’s state railways service in a letter to shoppers following “clarification” from the European Fee on the mechanism for making use of the sanctions.

Urging residents to not resort to panic shopping for, Alikhanov stated two vessels have been already ferrying items between Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg, and 7 extra could be in service by the top of the 12 months.

“Our ferries will deal with all of the cargo”, he stated on Saturday.

A spokesman for Lithuania’s rail service confirmed the contents of the letter however declined to remark additional. The international ministry didn’t reply to a request from Reuters for remark.

Lithuanian Deputy International Minister Mantas Adomenas advised public broadcaster his establishment was ready for “clarification from the European Fee on making use of European sanctions to Kaliningrad cargo transit”.

Sandwiched between EU and NATO members Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad receives provides from Russia by way of rail and gasoline pipelines by Lithuania.

Residence to the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic sea fleet, the enclave was captured from Nazi Germany by the Crimson Military in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union after World Warfare Two.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; extra reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels; modifying by John Stonestreet and Christina Fincher)