Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lithuanian state companies and institutions have purchased more than 12 million euros worth of goods from car trading company Autovici, linked to Vičiūnai Group, which has recently been added to Ukraine’s list of international war sponsors, initiative group STOP Trade in Russia reported on Tuesday.
According to a study carried out by STOP Trade in Russia, Autovici has won as many as 104 public procurements of Lithuanian state-owned companies, institutions, or bodies since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Among the institutions that have purchased goods from Autovici are the Energy Distribution Operator (ESO), the Vilnius City Municipality Administration, and the Defence Resources Agency.
The Defence Resources Agency under the Defence Ministry alone has bought 235 Peugeot Rifter cars for 6.45 million euros for the Lithuanian Armed Forces from Autovici.
According to a statement sent to LRT.lt by the Defence Ministry, the Defence Resources Agency signed the contract for the purchase of vehicles with Autovici on October 26, 2022, when Russia’s war in Ukraine was already in full swing.
The sole shareholder of Autovici is businessman Šarūnas Matijošaitis, who is also the head of the Vičiūnai Group, one of the largest manufacturers of fish products in Europe.
At the beginning of January, Vičiūnai Group, controlled by Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijošaitis and his business partner Liudas Skierus, was added to Ukraine’s list of international war sponsors for its continued operations in Russia.
Further reading
Autovici is the official Opel, Peugeot, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Jeep dealer in Vilnius and Kaunas. It is also the official Citroen dealer in Kaunas, the company’s website says.
“It’s hard to believe that the main customers of Autovici, a company directly linked to the declared war sponsor Vičiūnai Group, are state institutions and companies,” said Ignas Plunksnis, a volunteer with STOP Trade in Russia.
“This shows a very clear gap in our national security policy – how can a company directly linked to war sponsors serve our state institutions, especially the Lithuanian Armed Forces, in the face of war?” he added.
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