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‘Our rights cannot be violated with impunity.’ Belaruskali comments on its lawsuit against Lithuania

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MINSK, 3 December (BelTA) - On 2 December, Belaruskali filed the full statement of claim with the international investment arbitration against Lithuania for its illegal actions which violated the company's rights as a foreign investor protected by the inter-governmental agreement on the promotion and protection of investments. Belaruskali Director General Andrei Rybakov commented on this decision by the Belarusian side in an interview with BelTA.

At the beginning of 2022, Lithuania stopped the transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers and unilaterally terminated the cargo transportation contract with Belarus. In addition, the rights of the Belarusian side as an investor in the infrastructure of the Port of Klaipeda were violated. Belaruskali is defending its rights in international arbitration.

"We are working in a routine mode. We have rebuilt our logistics and are supplying sufficient volumes of potash fertilizers to the international market. This claim is not a force majeure. This is a calculated, deliberate decision to hold the counter-party accountable for the unprecedented violation of our rights. Having worked for several years in the new conditions, having built new mechanisms and logistics, we have more accurately assessed the damage caused to us. All our claims in this lawsuit have been thoroughly calculated as we seek to achieve full compensation of the damage from the defendant,” said Andrei Rybakov.

According to him, the lawsuit is complex, multi-faceted. “It has been prepared by professional lawyers with our participation. The legal claim has been submitted to the interested parties for study,” the Belaruskali director general said.

He also explained the main goals of this move for Belarus. “No one should get the impression that our rights can be violated with impunity. Our country will always respond to such actions. This is a message to those who will try to violate our rights in the future. Moreover, we want to seek compensation for the damage. The amount is significant. It will be analyzed by all parties and will be discussed during the process. The lawsuit contains all the necessary calculations. In our opinion, everything is clear and understandable. The final decision is up to the arbitration,” Andrei Rybakov said.

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