The Kremlin could exert influence on Lithuania and try to destabilize the country if Russia’s chemical concern EuroChem Group were to acquire Achemos Grupė (Achema Group), one of Lithuania’s largest concerns, that owns a large fertilizer plant in Jonava and the largest stevedoring company in the port of Klaipeda, a political scientist has said.
The Kremlin could exert influence on Lithuania and try to destabilize the country if Russia’s chemical concern EuroChem Group were to acquire Achemos Grupė (Achema Group), one of Lithuania’s largest concerns, that owns a large fertilizer plant in Jonava and the largest stevedoring company in the port of Klaipeda, a political scientist has said.
“The policy would begin with potential influence of the Kremlin on that company and then continue with some disloyal behavior towards Lithuania, towards the company that employs so many people and creates a substantial share of gross domestic product. It’s possible to destabilize the country through, let’s say, deliberate attempts to ruin [the company] or through other ways of influence. Here such a hypothetic danger is obviously present,” Vincentas Vobolevičius told BNS. “In Russia, a distinction between private business and the state does not actually exist hence that danger is quite real. On the other hand, however, there are two important questions: will it [Achemos Grupė] really be sold and if yes, what would be the stance of Lithuania’s authorities,” he added.
Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė said on Friday that any potential investor in Achemos Grupėwould have to comply with the national security criteria. Achema, a fertilizer manufacturer, is the only company of Achemos Grupė to be included in the list of companies relevant for national security.
BNS
