Aviabaltika, an aviation MRO services provider previously owned by Russian citizen Yuri Borisov and deemed incompatible with Lithuania’s national security interests, has been temporarily banned from using its leased state land and buildings at Kaunas Airport.
The Kaunas District Court granted the request of Lietuvos Oro Uostai (Lithuanian Airports, LTOU) for the interim measures on July 23. Aviabaltika is now only allowed to carry out actions necessary to vacate the plot.
LTOU is asking the court to order Aviabaltika to demolish the buildings and remove any remaining construction materials from the site within three months of the court’s judgment becoming final.
Gabija Vilemavičiūtė, advisor to the Kaunas court president, told BNS that Aviabaltika has appealed against the district court’s ruling to the Klaipeda Regional Court
Since the court has decided to hear the case behind closed doors, she could not provide further details.
Aviabaltika declined to comment to BNS on the dispute but confirmed it had contested the district court’s ruling.
LTOU earlier told BNS that it had informed Aviabaltika that it had to vacate the leased site after the lease expired. The airport operator added that it was waiting for the court’s verdict for further clarity on the situation.
In its July 24 judgement, which is final and not subject to appeal, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania ruled that Aviabaltika is incompatible with national security interests and therefore cannot extend its state land lease at Kaunas Airport.
The court underlined that the company’s operations are considered to be part of the strategically important transport sector and that the airport is critical infrastructure for national security.
Aviabaltika trades in aviation equipment and provides helicopter repair services within Kaunas Airport’s security zone. The company’s hangars are located on state land, and the lease has been continuously extended since 1994. It was last extended in 2020 until October 2023.
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