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Lithuania has sounded the alarm over what it calls a “systematic abuse” of the European Union’s medical exemptions, accusing Russia of using the loophole to import banned goods that support its military-industrial complex, according to Bloomberg.
In an exclusive interview, Deputy Foreign Minister Gabija Grigaite-Daugirde revealed that Lithuanian customs authorities blocked the export of nearly 29,000 shipments to Russia and Belarus in 2024, all falsely declared as medical supplies.
Among them were vehicle components, refrigeration units, copiers, and microelectronic devices that frequently used in modern weapons systems.
“We are not just talking about humanitarian items. We’re talking about precision technologies with clear military applications,” said Grigaite-Daugirde. “Keeping automatic medical exemptions in place is like closing the front door and leaving the back gate wide open.”
Under current EU sanctions, exports classified as medical goods are granted automatic exemptions, a measure originally intended to preserve humanitarian access.
However, Lithuanian officials argue that this blanket policy is now being exploited by Kremlin-linked entities to circumvent trade restrictions and funnel critical technology into Russia.
Grigaite-Daugirde called on the European Commission to implement mandatory, case-by-case exemption procedures, requiring exporters to obtain prior authorization before shipping sensitive goods to sanctioned destinations.
The Lithuanian government warns that Russia’s demand for advanced Western technologies has reached a new level of desperation as it shifts to a full war economy. Dual-use items, goods that have both civilian and military applications, remain a key focus of concern.
