Kaunas asks prosecutor to probe possible circumvention of international sanctions

Lithuania’s Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to assess reports of possible circumvention of international sanctions and decide whether to launch a pre-trial investigation, LRT reports.

The request follows a journalistic investigation published in the public domain, which alleged that companies operating in Lithuania may have transported goods to Russia while bypassing international sanctions.

“When such information comes to light, law enforcement institutions must evaluate the potential signs of criminal activity and take immediate action to investigate them. In my view, there is sufficient grounds to begin a pre-trial investigation in this case,” Kaunas said.

He emphasised that circumventing sanctions amounts to aiding the aggressor in its war against Ukraine, adding that Lithuania is among the countries most affected by the conflict.

“While people are dying in Ukraine and Lithuania is investing record funds in defence, any attempt to profit by bypassing sanctions and supplying the aggressor with goods is not only a crime but also a betrayal of state interests,” the minister stated.

Under Lithuania’s Criminal Code, violating international sanctions or restrictions set by national laws is a criminal offence, punishable by fines or imprisonment of up to five years.