Lanekss LLC equipped Russian-made tea and Belarus-produced salt to the Latvian Nationwide Armed Forces (NBS), LTV’s Panorāma program reported.
NBS orders meals provides by way of the State Protection Logistics and Acquisition Heart. In October 2023, the military obtained 2.6 kg of Russian-made tea. In January 2024, the Latvian military obtained 7 kg of Belarusian salt. NBS returned each shipments.
Kaspars Zdanovskis, deputy head of the Joint Help Workers of the Nationwide Statistics Service, defined to this system that the contracts don’t clearly state that it isn’t allowed to acquire these merchandise from Russia and Belarus. Nevertheless, these merchandise will not be delivered to the NBS cafeteria. Zdanovskis additionally acknowledged that he considers including this particular part in future contracts, whereas including that meals merchandise will not be topic to sanctions.
On the similar time, Zdanovskis claims that the choice to terminate the contract with Lanekss LLC ought to be made by a court docket of legislation.
Lanekss board member Ņina Siliņa explains that for the reason that Panorāma information in January, when it was reported that the corporate had equipped Russian tea to the armed forces, the corporate has canceled all agreements associated to merchandise that might even have the slightest ties with Russia and Belarus. The corporate additionally stopped buying merchandise made in Russia and Belarus despite the fact that sure merchandise will not be included on the sanctions lists.
Latvian Protection Minister Andris Sprūds emphasizes that Russian and Belarusian items shouldn’t be equipped to the Latvian military. “We’ll set up measures to regulate items and suppliers must bear in mind the intense penalties if they provide items of inappropriate origin,” Sprūds stated.
The LTV program experiences that the State Regional Growth Company (VRAA), which oversees the Digital Procurement System (EIS), now must work with attorneys to see whether it is doable to take motion towards a particular firm. In the meanwhile, the distribution of Russian and Belarusian merchandise within the state and municipal buying system is suspended.
When requested tips on how to remedy this drawback and whether or not Latvia may ban imports of such merchandise, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa stated that this can be a resolution that ought to be made by all the European Union.
As beforehand reported, LTV obtained Greenfield model tea made in Russia in a trial acquisition. The label on the bundle signifies that it was manufactured in St. Petersburg lengthy after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The tea was equipped by Lanekss.
Army police are additionally reported to be investigating fraud within the provide of meals to the Ādaži navy base.
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