Baltic ports in Latvia and Lithuania have turn out to be a gateway for wine and whisky imports to the sanctioned nation
There isn’t any want for Russia to impose an embargo on wine and whisky imports from ‘unfriendly’ nations, however deliveries through the ‘hostile’ Baltic nations have to be stopped, Sergey Ivanov, a particular consultant to the Russian president, has mentioned.
In an interview to the Russia 24 TV channel on Thursday, Ivanov, whose remit consists of environmental safety, ecology and transportation, mentioned that wine and whiskey are imported in massive batches to Russia through Latvia and Lithuania, regardless of the sanctions.
“We enable the Baltic ports to profiteer at our expense,” Ivanov mentioned. “[These harbors] solely exist because of cargoes to or from Russia,” he added.
Latvia, a vocal supporter of Ukraine and the sanctions in opposition to Moscow, turned Russia’s high provider of whisky final 12 months, outpacing all different exporters mixed, RIA Novosti reported earlier this month, citing business information.
In accordance with Western consultants, because the begin of the EU sanctions marketing campaign in opposition to Russia in 2022, the small Baltic nation has acted as a intermediary for Western spirits getting into the Russian market.
Latvia’s neighbor Lithuania was Russia’s second-largest whisky provider final 12 months, the RIA Novosti information confirmed.
Ivanov mentioned that he was “categorically” against an embargo on the availability of wine and whiskey from unfriendly states.
The time period ‘unfriendly’ refers to nations that imposed unilateral commerce and financial sanctions on Russia over the battle in Ukraine.
“I’m in favor of constant provides, solely through different routes, not by the Baltics,” Ivanov mentioned, naming Russia’s personal ports on the Baltic Sea, and ports on the Black Sea as attainable options.
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