The Lithuanian Seimas allowed the introduction of national economic sanctions against Russia and Belarus

The Lithuanian Seimas has made a final decision to allow the government to impose national economic sanctions against Russia and Belarus, LRT reports.

93 deputies voted for the relevant amendments to the law, while two more abstained.

The amendments to the law "On Restrictive Measures Due to Military Aggression against Ukraine", prepared by the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, provide that the country's government will be able to form lists of individuals and companies subject to sanctions.

In addition, the document provides that the property of sanctioned individuals or companies may be frozen, and sectoral restrictions are also introduced.

Sanctions will be applied if individuals or companies support the war, violate the territorial integrity of Ukraine, or participate in repression against the opposition in Russia or civil society.

At the same time, the document provides for exceptions that relate to money needed to purchase food, medicines, and other necessary goods or services.

Sectoral sanctions aim to prohibit the import of technology, services, and software from Russia and Belarus, as well as the export of these products for use by the Russian or Belarusian armed forces.

However, such restrictions will not apply in cases where the services are necessary for pharmaceutical, medical or humanitarian purposes.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry also proposes to introduce additional restrictions if it is established that certain sectors of the Russian or Belarusian economy are being used to support the war, modernize the army, strengthen the military-industrial complex, or threaten Lithuania's national security, in particular through information manipulation.

• On June 8, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that sanctions against Russia had been insufficient. According to him, this was not what European countries expected after the start of a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022.