Lithuania shall reimburse one billion euros for the breakdown of the agreement on the transit of Belaruskali fertilizers. This is the principled position of Minsk.
On February 1, 2022, Vilnius canceled the contract on the transit of Belarusian fertilizers as allegedly threatening their national security. This happened immediately after the U.S. imposed sanctions against dozens of Belarusian companies, including Belaruskali. Due to these restrictions and the closure of eastern markets, Lithuania's transport sector faced serious difficulties.
Last year, the freight transportation of Lithuanian railroads fell by almost 40%. Now the Belarusian producer of potash fertilizers has applied to international arbitration.
The claim for compensation is justified by the 1999 Lithuanian-Belarusian agreement on the promotion and protection of investment. In a word, Vilnius does not fulfill not only its bilateral, but also international obligations.
