Lithuanian firms have unknowingly exported goods to the Russian military industry

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Lithuanian companies have delivered at least 130 million euros worth of dual-use, civilian and military goods to countries neighboring Russia, which are believed to have subsequently ended up in the industry Russian military, revealed an investigative team of the Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT), according to EFE and Agerpres.

According to the investigation, the so-called dual-use goods, including microchips, electronic products, electrical appliances and machines that can be used to manufacture civilian products or military weapons and systems, were sent by Lithuanian companies to countries in Central Asia.

But in fact they finally reached Russia.

Lithuanian companies say they did not know

“Deliveries are made through countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Lithuanian companies involved in the export claim that they did not know that the dual-use goods and technologies would eventually end up in Russia,” LRT said.

According to LRT, more than 70 Lithuanian companies have contributed to sending dual-use items to Russia on several occasions.

A company involved in these shipments was owned by the mayor of Lithuania’s second largest city, Kaunas, and his business partner.

The EU does not prohibit the shipment of dual-use products to those countries

The LRT investigation points out that the European Union (EU) does not prohibit the shipment of dual-use products to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and other countries.

However, Lithuania implemented such a nationwide ban in 2023.

Among the Lithuanian companies involved in these exports were electronics and auto parts traders, logistics companies and customs agents.

Another investigation showed that manganese was being transported from Latvia to Russia

The LRT investigation was made public around the same time that Latvia-based investigative journalism group Re:Baltica reported that certain companies with ties to Latvian politicians, including a member of parliament, were involved in transport of manganese ore to Russia.

Manganese is used in the manufacture of tanks and other armored vehicles.

“Overall, Latvia and Estonia, which have become the largest exporters of EU manganese ore to Russia since the start of the Ukraine war, delivered 1.9 million tonnes to Russia last year,” industry sources said, according to the investigation. Lithuanian journalists.

A percentage of 78% was transported through Latvia, 22% through Estonia, where a company with ties to former Prime Minister Tiit Vahi handles this cargo in the port of Sillame, wrote Re:Baltica.

Even though figures show Latvia plays a key role in supplying manganese ore to Russia’s military industry, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has refused to order state-owned companies to immediately stop transporting and handling manganese, saying the ban should be imposed by the EU in its whole.

The head of the Latvian government also mentioned the economic impact on the income and employment of the Latvian state railways, whose branches transported ore.