Lithuanian lawmakers are preparing legal changes that could prevent companies maintaining commercial ties with Russia or Belarus from operating at the country's strategic infrastructure facilities, including airports and other nationally important sites, independent Lithuanian news agency BNS reported on June 17.

The move aims to strengthen Lithuania's national security by barring firms linked to Russia or Belarus from operating at strategic sites.

The initiative emerged following discussions within the Parliament Seimas National Security and Defence Committee, which has been examining whether existing legislation provides sufficient safeguards against potential security risks linked to businesses connected to the two neighbouring states.

Committee deputy chairman Laurynas Kasciunas said the aim is to strengthen national security rules by allowing authorities to consider ongoing business relations with Russia and Belarus when evaluating companies seeking permits, contracts or operating rights at critical facilities.

"We need to strengthen the legal framework so that, five years into the war, trade relations with the Russian Federation and Belarus can be treated as a criterion for refusing permits or contracts at Lithuania's strategic sites," Kasciunas said, BNS reported.

The debate has drawn attention to Travel Retail Vilnius, the operator of duty-free shops at Vilnius and Kaunas airports. The company belongs to Germany's Gebr. Heinemann group, one of Europe's largest travel retail operators, which previously conducted business in both Russia and Belarus.

Kasciunas argued that Lithuania should carefully assess whether companies with historical or current links to those markets are suitable partners for strategic infrastructure projects.

"We are essentially legitimising companies that continue to maintain trade ties with Belarus and Russia. The question remains: can we not find other, fully transparent companies for our strategic sites that maintain no links to Russia," he said, BNS reported.

However, Lithuanian Airports chief executive Simonas Bartkus noted that the government commission responsible for reviewing transactions involving strategic assets had twice assessed Gebr. Heinemann's activities and approved the arrangements, BNS reported.