Lithuanian parliament officially bans Russian gas imports, except for transit to Kaliningrad

VILNIUS. June 28 (Interfax/BNS) - Lithuania has legally banned the import of Russian natural gas, with the exception of transit to the Kaliningrad Region, Russia, according to the corresponding amendments adopted on Tuesday by the Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, to the Natural Gas Law, with 123 members voting in favor and two abstaining.

According to the amendments to the law, the country's gas transmission system and the Klaipedos nafta liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal will be available only to suppliers from countries that do not pose a threat to Lithuania's national security, with the exception of suppliers pumping gas in transit to Kaliningrad.

Klaipedos nafta in early March suspended accepting gas supplies from Novatek because of the European Union's sanctions imposed against Gennady Timchenko.

Lithuania has completely refused to supply Russian gas via the pipeline since April.

Russian gas continues to be pumped in transit via Lithuania to Kaliningrad currently, but in a different technical regime that ensures only the transfer of the amount of gas necessary for transit.