Lithuania Reports US Pressure to Resume Belarusian Potash Transit
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys admitted at a closed meeting of the Social Democratic faction that the United States is exerting pressure to allow the transit of Belarusian fertilizers through Lithuania, writes Lrytas.
Kęstutis Budrys. Photo: AP Photo / Mindaugas Kulbis
"Until today, both publicly and to you, I repeated that there is no pressure on us from the Americans and no issues related to fertilizers — how these sanctions are imposed and so on. Today I can say that pressure is emerging," a source quoted Budrys as saying.
According to BNS sources, the minister stated at the meeting that pressure is being exerted not only on Lithuania but also on other countries in the region through which transit could be carried out. However, Lithuania is considered the most attractive route for transporting fertilizers to the Baltic Sea.
Budrys on Thursday refused to confirm to journalists the words spoken at the closed meeting of the Social Democratic faction, but stated that there is "additional activity" from the US regarding fertilizer transit.
Lithuania suspended the transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers from February 1, 2022, after the US imposed sanctions against Belaruskali in 2021 in response to human rights violations, repression against civil society, and the falsification of presidential elections in Belarus.
The US lifted these sanctions this year when Lukashenka's regime released some political prisoners.
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