Restrictions on transit to Kaliningrad Oblast
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File:Kaliningrad Oblast within Europe.svg
A series of restrictions on transit through Lithuania between the Russian semi-exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast and mainland Russia were implemented during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Kaliningrad proposes ban on movement of goods from Baltic states |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/11/kaliningrad-proposes-ban-on-movement-of-goods-from-baltic-states |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}} The restrictions extended only to sanctioned goods and began on 18 June 2022.{{Cite web |title=Kaliningrad proposes ban on movement of goods from Baltic states |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/11/kaliningrad-proposes-ban-on-movement-of-goods-from-baltic-states |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}} The rail restrictions were lifted one month later on 23 July.
History of transit
{{See also|Lithuania–Russia relations|European Union–Russia relations}}
Russia and Lithuania negotiated a simplified transit regime to Kaliningrad in the late 1990s.{{cite web|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1143876/russia-s-military-corridor-in-lithuania-that-never-was |title=Russia's military corridor in Lithuania that never was|date=19 February 2020|access-date=21 July 2022}} Initially, Russia pushed for a right to have a military corridor, but Lithuania refused as it would breach the country's sovereignty. The agreement was signed and the simplified transit mechanism began operating on 1 July 2003, with Lithuania fully regulating the rules of the transit. When Lithuania joined the EU in 2004, it also joined the common policy on economic sanctions.
Timeline
=June 2022=
The restriction was introduced on 18 June 2022, against Russia as a sanction following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Литва відрізала Калінінградську область від поставок вантажів з РФ: що відомо |trans-title=Lithuania cut off the Kaliningrad region from the supply of goods from the Russian Federation: what is known |url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/litva-otrezala-kaliningradskuyu-obl-postavok-1655538641.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=RBC-Ukraine |language=ru}} Among other things, the transit of coal, metals, cement, wood, building materials and high-tech products by railway transport was stopped. The governor of the Kaliningrad Oblast, Anton Alikhanov, said that the ban affected 40–50% of cargo transported between the region and the rest of Russia. On 21 June Lithuania extended restrictions on freight vehicles as well.
In response, the Russian delegation began to openly threaten Lithuania.{{Cite web |title=Россия ставит ультиматум и открыто угрожает Литве |trans-title=Russia issues an ultimatum and openly threatens Lithuania |url=https://www.delfi.lt/a/90535089 |access-date=2022-07-14 |language=ru |website=Delfi}}{{Cite news |title=Запрет на транзит санкционных товаров в Калининград. Законно ли это и что теперь будет |trans-title=Ban on the transit of sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad. Is it legal and what will happen now? |language=ru |work=BBC News Русская служба |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-61879313 |access-date=2022-07-14}} {{ill|Andrey Arkadyevich Klimov|ru|Климов, Андрей Аркадьевич}}, the head of the temporary commission of the Federation Council for the protection of sovereignty, said that if the EU "does not correct the situation with the blockade, it will free Russia's hands to solve this problem by any means".{{Cite web |title=У Кремлі відкрито погрожують Литві через заборону транзиту вантажів з РФ |trans-title=The Kremlin openly threatens Lithuania because of the ban on the transit of goods from the Russian Federation |url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/kremle-otkryto-ugrozhayut-litve-zapreta-tranzit-1655806673.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=РБК-Украина |language=ru}}{{failed verification|date=March 2024}} Russia expressed an official protest to Lithuania.
On 22 June, the United States reminded Russia that NATO's commitment to defend Lithuania was "ironclad".{{cite web |title=US says NATO commitment to Lithuania 'ironclad' after Russia threat|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-says-nato-commitment-to-lithuania-ironclad-after-russia-threat/|date=22 June 2022|access-date=21 July 2022|website=Euractiv}}
Representatives of Lithuania stated that they were ready to disconnect Russia from the regional energy system. On 24 June, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda said "the Russian Federation would not dare to attack a country that is a member of NATO".{{Cite web |title=Президент Литви пояснив, чому Росія не наважиться напасти на його країну |trans-title=The President of Lithuania explained why Russia would not dare to attack his country |url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/prezident-litvy-obyasnil-pochemu-rossiya-1656083881.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=РБК-Украина |language=ru}}
On 29 June the head of the Committee of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation on International Affairs, Vladimir Dzhabarov, suggested that Russia could use military force against Lithuania.{{Cite web |title=Блокада Калінінграду: в Росії допускають військовий конфлікт з Литвою |trans-title=Blockade of Kaliningrad: military conflict with Lithuania is allowed in Russia |url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/blokada-kaliningrada-rossii-dopuskayut-voennyy-1656507124.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=РБК-Украина |language=ru}}
=July 2022=
On 11 July Lithuania expanded restrictions on the transit of goods, starting the phased introduction of sanctions announced by the EU. The list included concrete, wood, alcohol and alcohol-based industrial chemicals.{{Cite web |title=Литва розширила обмеження на транзит товарів в Калінінградську область |url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/litva-rasshirila-ogranicheniya-tranzit-tovarov-1657524305.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=РБК-Украина |language=ru}}
On 13 July the European Commission published an explanation for member states regarding the transit of goods from Russia to Kaliningrad, confirming the legality of Lithuania's actions.{{Cite web |title=Press corner |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=European Commission - European Commission |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Єврокомісія опублікувала роз'яснення щодо транзиту товарів в Калінінград |url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/evrokomissiya-opublikovala-razyasneniya-tranzitu-1657721188.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=РБК-Украина |language=ru}} The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania stated that they were following the recommendations and would check all goods as much as possible in order to make it impossible for Russia to violate the terms of the sanctions.{{Cite web |title=URM pakomentavo EK išaiškinimą: sveikina ir vertina teigiamai |url=https://www.delfi.lt/a/90724441 |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Delfi |language=lt}}{{Cite web |title=У Литві розповіли, що буде з транзитом в Калінінград після рекомендацій ЄК |url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/litve-rasskazali-budet-tranzitom-kaliningrad-1657728712.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=РБК-Украина |language=ru}}
On 23 July Lithuania removed rail transit restrictions for Kaliningrad after the EU revised its sanction recommendations to only apply to road transit and not rail.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62274474|title=Kaliningrad row: Lithuania lifts rail restrictions for Russian exclave|work=BBC News|date=23 July 2022}}
See also
{{Portal|Russia|Europe|Politics|Lithuania}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
Category:Reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine