Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has sent a letter of resignation to the prime minister.
The move follows criticism over Lithuania's failure to stop the transit of Belarusian fertilisers after the US introduced sanctions on Belaruskali, the Belarusian state-owned company and one of the biggest potash producers in the world.
Read more: Vilnius taken unawares by Belaruskali's agreement with Lithuanian Railways
On Thursday, Landsbergis said he was ready to step down.
Belaruskali exports most of its production via Lithuania. US introduced sanctions on the Belarusian state-owned company on December 8, banning American companies from dealing with Belaruskali.
Lithuanian authorities assumed that Belaruskali's transit across the country would cease on the same day, since commercial banks stopped processing the company's transactions. However, Lithuanian Railways, the state-owned railway company, said the shipments to the port of Klaipėda would continue for another several months, as Belaruskali had paid in advance before the sanctions came into effect.
Read more: No way to stop Belarusian potash transit via Lithuania, says cargo company
Lithuanian Railways said the Foreign Ministry and the Transport Ministry had been informed about the situation, although Landsbergis initially denied any knowledge of it.
“In view of the current situation, with the transportation of Belarusian cargo continuing after the US sanctions, and the reputational challenges it poses to your government, [...] I ask you to accept my letter of resignation and relieve me of the duties of the foreign minister at your earliest convenience,” Landsbergis wrote in the letter to Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
Transport Minister Marius Skuodis has also suggested he was ready to step down, if the prime minister asked him to.
Šimonytė said on Thursday she would announce her decision early next week.
Lithuania has been among the most vocal advocates of economic sanctions against the Belarusian government for its violent crackdown on pro-democracy opposition.
However, Lithuania cannot impose unilateral trade sanctions due to EU rules.
Transport Minister Skuodis has suggested that the heads of Lithuanian Railways and the Port of Klaipėda should be fired. Both companies, however, deny any wrongdoing, saying they could not violate existing contracts with Belaruskali, unless the government explicitly told them to.
They also said the US sanctions only apply if transactions with Belaruskali involve US entities, US banks, or US dollars.
Read more: Lithuania gears up for losses as US slaps sanctions on Belarusian company
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