Ministry proposes ending Lithuania's customs cooperation agreements with Russia, Belarus

VILNIUS – The Finance Ministry proposes terminating Lithuania's customs cooperation agreements with Russia and Belarus, signed almost two decades ago. 

The ministry has drafted government resolutions to this effect.

Lithuania's customs authorities have not cooperated or exchanged information with the customs services of Russia and Belarus since the start of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the ministry.

However, individuals trading with Russia and Belarus submit documents issued by the countries' customs services to Lithuanian customs and courts as evidence, in an effort to prove the legitimacy of their trade and compliance with international sanctions.

"In view of this and the geopolitical situation - the continuing unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine by Russia and its accomplice Belarus (...), as well as the fact that in practice cross-border trade and economic cooperation is entirely suspended and impossible with the aggressor countries, it is appropriate to denounce these agreements," the ministry says.   

The agreement with Belarus on cooperation in combating customs law violations was signed in Vilnius in July 1996, and the agreement with Russia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs activities was signed in Moscow in February 1995.  

The denunciation of the agreement with Belarus, which was ratified in September 2000, will require approval from the Lithuanian president and the parliament.