Lithuania-registered firms used to evade sanctions, gain Western tech access: Report

ISTANBUL

A recent security report revealed Friday that companies registered in Lithuania had allegedly been used to evade international sanctions and gain access to Western technologies, according public broadcaster LRT.

The national security threat assessment, issued by the State Security Department and the Second Investigation Department, cited three companies as examples of how actors allegedly linked to Russia and Belarus used Lithuanian businesses in such manner.

The three companies are BK Software, NTLab and Kosminis Vytis.

The report noted that these schemes often rely on reactivating companies with little or no recent business activity.

Lithuanian intelligence said the Vilnius-based BK Software, led by a Russian citizen, helped bypass sanctions by partnering with a Hong Kong company owned by a Russian. The firm is said to be under EU and US sanctions as a major supplier of microelectronics components used by Russian companies to produce drones.

NTLab and Kosminis Vytis were also allegedly used to obtain Western technologies with potential civilian and military applications.

Intelligence services said entities connected to the Russian and Belarusian defense sectors used the Lithuanian companies to forge ties with foreign firms and gain access to technologies.