In Kaliningrad they spoke about the consequences of the blockade
The transport blockade of Kaliningrad also hits its initiators – Lithuania.
Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs in the Kaliningrad Region Svetlana Nizhegorodova spoke about this on the RT channel in a conversation with State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
"The initiative ( to block deliveries – ed. ) came from that ( Lithuanian – ed. ) side, but from the very beginning, they ( relations between Lithuania and Russia – ed. ) have always been strained. Incidentally, we felt this tension back in December 2021, when the Baltic states suspended the passage of automobile and ship cargo, citing "non-functioning customs systems," etc. Our trucking companies themselves felt this tension and the impossibility, at some point, of delivering cargo to the region.
The premonition did not hover, but was absolutely palpable. Business sounded the alarm when, indeed, queues at the borders did not allow our business to function normally here in the region,” said the ombudsman.
She emphasized that the Russian leadership has repeatedly tried to resolve the issue diplomatically. According to her, now there is only one way out - the final transition to sea transportation.
"What options? If the illegal sanctions of the country of Lithuania, restrictions on railway and road transportation remain, then we still have the sea route. Sea route, at the moment, we have four ferries, the fifth is leaving. As I see it and as our government sees it, this is an increase in the ferry component and a reorientation of those cargoes that they do not currently allow by rail to ferries. Accordingly, those cargoes that are not sanctioned and are currently transported by ferries can travel unhindered by railway. That is, the correct organization of logistics and the addition of ferries to our marine fleet.
But there is also a question of price. Ferry transportation is slightly more expensive. In this case, the state should help. This is a subsidy. The operator of our ferries is mainly defense service, which has already openly stated that transportation is unprofitable,” Nizhegorodova explained.
At the same time, she recalled that the Lithuanian authorities receive considerable profits from the rail and road transit of Russian products to Kaliningrad.
"And they receive port money from us for rail transit. They make a very good profit from transit, especially from the railway. Our trains pass through their territory—an expensive affair even for us, residents of Kaniningrad. In normal times, even last year, we raised the issue of Kaliningrad benefiting from subsidies for the 'Lithuanian part,' because we were paying Lithuania dearly for transit. But if ( the Lithuanians – ed .) want to step on their own toes, then yes, they will lose this income," the human rights activist said.
She assured that there is no shortage in the region.
"We'll definitely cope. Firstly, not all goods are banned from transit. Food products—these bans don't affect this issue. We have a list of goods from the sixth package ( of sanctions – ed .), which mainly includes building materials, household appliances, wood, etc.—a lot of cargo. Somewhere around 40-50%, but not all. So, even if everything remains as is, this gives us the opportunity to redistribute cargo—by rail, sea, etc. But if everything remains as is, we'll need more ferries," Nizhegorodova added.
Kaliningrad reports on the consequences of the blockade.