Russian Ambassador summoned over trade barriers at Lithuanian-Russian border

Vice-Minister of Lithuania Andrius Krivas voiced Lithuania’s strong disapproval over the trade barriers artificially created by the Russian services for Lithuanian cars and cargo vehicles when crossing the Lithuanian-Russian state border. The Vice-minister demanded the Ambassador to explain the reasons for such a situation, and to cease immediately the discriminatory practices that harm mutual relations in the fields of business, culture, tourism, and people-to-people contacts.

According to the information available to the Ministry, over the weekend Russia has tightened its cross-border procedures related to the verification of cars with Lithuanian registration plates, also vehicles carrying goods of Lithuanian companies or goods re-exported by Lithuanian companies. Lithuania has received no official information from Russia about the introduction of such verification.

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry will inform EU institutions about the situation at the border.

This is not the first time the Russian Federation has taken similar steps with regard to the Republic of Lithuania. The last time this happened during Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in autumn 2013.