Lithuania Wants to Ban Companies Linked to Russia and Belarus from Accessing Critical Infrastructure — LRT
Lithuanian lawmakers are actively pushing for the passage of a law that would prohibit companies with commercial ties to Russia or Belarus from operating at critical infrastructure facilities.
This primarily concerns strategic transportation hubs, particularly the country’s international airports.
The initiative is designed to minimize security risks and strengthen control over strategic sectors of the economy.
Laurynas Kaščiūnas, deputy chair of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defense, stated that the committee continues to work diligently on this legislative proposal.
At present, the exact legal mechanism for implementing the ban is still being developed and coordinated.
Lawmakers aim to create an effective tool that will prevent untrustworthy businesses from gaining access to the management of critical state facilities.
“We need to strengthen the legal framework so that, five years after the start of the war, trade relations with the Russian Federation and Belarus can be considered a criterion for denying permits or awarding contracts for strategic facilities in Lithuania,” the Lithuanian official emphasized, outlining the purpose of the new restrictions.
The main impetus for these discussions within the committee was the issue surrounding the activities of the well-known company “Travel Retail Vilnius.”
Currently, this company successfully operates a network of duty-free shops at the Vilnius and Kaunas airports.
The company is owned by the large German group “Gebr. Heinemann,” which specializes in retail trade for travelers and previously operated actively in the Russian and Belarusian markets.
“Essentially, we are legitimizing companies that continue to maintain trade ties with Belarus and Russia. The question remains: Can’t we find other, fully transparent companies for our strategic facilities that have no ties to Russia?” Laurinas Kaščiūnas asked during a speech in parliament.
This was reported by LRT.
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