Moscow demands that Vilnius immediately lift restrictions on cargo transit between Kaliningrad region, rest of Russia - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. June 20 (Interfax) - Russia reserves the right to protect its interests unless Lithuania fully resumes transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website on Monday.

"Lithuanian Charge d'Affaires ad interim Virginia Umbrasene was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on June 20. A strong protest was expressed to the chief of the diplomatic mission in connection with a ban imposed by Vilnius without prior notification of Russia on rail transit of a vast range of goods to the Kaliningrad region through the territory of Lithuania," the statement said.

"The immediate cancellation of such restrictions was demanded," it said.

"It was noted that unless cargo transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russian territory through Lithuania is fully resumed in the near future, Russia reserves the right to act in defense of national interests," the statement said.

Moscow "views the provocative measures taken by the Lithuanian side in violation of international legal obligations of Lithuania, primarily the 2002 joint statement of the Russian Federation and the European Union on transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russian territory, as outright hostile," the ministry said.