Lithuania proposes terminating customs cooperation agreements with Russia, Belarus

VILNIUS. Aug 16 (Interfax/BNS) - The Lithuanian Finance Ministry has proposed terminating customs cooperation agreements signed with Russia and Belarus nearly 30 years ago and has drawn up corresponding government draft resolutions.

The Lithuanian customs service has not been cooperating and has not been exchanging information with the Russian and Belarusian customs authorities since the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the ministry said.

However, people engaged in trade with Russia and Belarus continue to submit documents issued by these countries to Lithuania's customs service and courts as proof of the legality of this trade and their compliance with international sanctions, it said.

Given this circumstance and the current geopolitical situation, i.e. the continuing actions of Russia and Belarus in relation to Ukraine, as well as the fact the trade and economic cooperation between the border districts has been fully suspended, "it is advisable to sever these agreements," it said.

The Russian-Lithuanian agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance on customs issues was signed in Moscow in February 1995. The Belarusian-Lithuanian agreement on cooperation in countering violations of customs laws was signed in Vilnius in July 1996.