Kaliningrad transit sanctions phased, expanding progressively - Governor

KALININGRAD. July 11 (Interfax) - The European Union and Lithuania have begun a new phase of Kaliningrad transit sanctions, and the regional administration is hoping for the Russian Foreign Ministry's support and effort to deal with the problem, Kaliningrad Region Governor Anton Alikhanov said on Telegram.

"I have read that Lithuania has broadened the range of Kaliningrad transit sanctions. This is not so. The sanctions endorsed by the European Commission are phased, they were approved back in March, and another stage of sanctions that apply to various kinds of goods has begun. For instance, restrictions on petroleum products will take effect in December," Alikhanov said.

"We insist that no restrictions apply to Kaliningrad transit in principle. We pin our hopes on the efforts of our foreign ministry," he said.

The regional authorities have proposed a full ban on cargo traffic (including transit cargo from third countries) between the three Baltic countries and Russia (except for cargo meant for the Kaliningrad region) as a retaliatory measure, Alikhanov said.

"That will keep the shipping companies and Kaliningrad ports busy; they have been seriously affected by the EU restrictions. Meanwhile, sea transportation tariffs should be levelled up to the railroad tariff at the 10-01 nominal price," he said.

Lithuania restricted the transit of steel, ferrous metals and other sanctioned goods to Russia's Kaliningrad region on June 17, as EU sanctions took effect, and said it was due to guidelines set by the European Commission.

Since Sunday, the EU sanctions ban transit of cement, alcohol and some other Russian-made products via Lithuania. According to the BNS news agency, the ban on the transit of coal and other solid minerals will take effect on August 10, while the ban on Russian oil and petroleum products will be enforced starting December 5.

In response, Moscow argued that the transit restrictions breached international agreements and threatened the country with countermeasures. In particular, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said last Friday that Moscow has completed preparing retaliatory measures against Lithuania and the European Union in response to the blockage of cargo transit to Kaliningrad and will begin implementing them unless the situation returns to normal within the next few days.

Today, cargo is transported by sea to the Kaliningrad region from other regions of the Russian Federation via two regular routes, from Ust-Luga to Baltiysk and from Bronka to Kaliningrad. In all, the Kaliningrad freight transit line is currently serviced by the Ambal, Batliysk and Marshal Rokossovsky ferries, the Ursa Major ro-ro/lo-lo class vessel, and the Kholmogory vessel.