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Russia has warned Lithuania of “serious” consequences after banning the transfer of some goods to Russian territory in Kaliningrad.
Russia “will certainly respond to such hostile actions,” said senior security official Nikolai Patrushev. BBC.
Lithuania says it is only pursuing EU sanctions imposed on Moscow over its occupation of Ukraine.
Kaliningrad, a strategic region where Russia’s Baltic Fleet is based, has no borders with mainland Russia.
The western territory was annexed by Germany after World War II in 1945, and is bordered by EU and NATO members Lithuania and Poland.
The region, home to about one million people, relies heavily on imports of raw materials and spare parts from Russia and the EU.
Regional Governor Anton Alikhanov said the ban would cover about 50% of the items Kaliningrad imports.
During a visit to Kaliningrad on Tuesday, Mr Patrushev said the blockade by Lithuania had been instigated by the West “in violation of international law”.
The secretary of Russia’s Security Council has warned that “appropriate measures” will be taken “in the near future”.
“Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the Lithuanian population,” he added, without giving further details.
Earlier Tuesday, the EU ambassador was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry for the blockade.
Last week, Lithuanian authorities announced they would ban the passage of goods subject to EU sanctions through their territory in Kaliningrad.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said: “Lithuania is not doing anything, it is the European sanctions that came into force on 17 June… This was done in consultation with the European Commission and according to the instructions of the European Commission.
The EU has echoed Lithuania’s statement, saying the country is implementing EU-imposed sanctions as a result of Russia’s occupation of Ukraine.
The sanctions list includes coal, metals, building materials and advanced technology.
As a member of the NATO military alliance, Lithuania is protected by collective defense treaties.
Russian officials are angry with Lithuania – and the EU – over the ban on the transit of some goods to Kaliningrad. They are comparing it to a blockade.
The Kremlin says it is trying to resolve this. On Monday, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that “the situation is really very serious and requires a very in-depth analysis before any action or decision is prepared. “This full analysis will be done in the coming days.”
Today, one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, Nikolai Patrushev, flew to the Kaliningrad region to discuss “national security in northwestern Russia.” Patrushev is the secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council. Officials say the visit was planned long ago.
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