Lithuania says Russia, Belarus seek Western technologies via local companies

VILNIUS - Lithuanian intelligence said on Friday that Russia and Belarus are seeking access to Western technologies, including through Lithuanian companies.

Presenting the national security threat assessment, the State Security Department and the Second Investigation Department said attempts are being made to acquire Western-made dual-use technologies through businesses established abroad, and in Lithuania through high-tech companies NTLAB and Kosminis Vytis, which are controlled by Belarusian citizens from the Chernyakhovsky family and are linked to the military industries of hostile states.

"Entities working against Lithuania’s national security interests continue to look for new opportunities to gain access to sectors or infrastructure of strategic importance. One of the methods involves establishing business contacts with entrepreneurs from other European countries or the US, then using them as intermediaries ," the threat assessment presented on Friday stated.

"By using them as intermediaries to avoid direct participation and creating a positive image of a business initiative," intelligence services said.

According to the agencies, NTLAB and Kosminis Vytis were established by Belarusian citizen Dmitry Chernyakhovsky, who managed them with his family while concealing ties to the Russian and Belarusian military industries.

"NTLab and Kosminis Vytis informed their customers and partners that they were Lithuanian companies with no links to Russia or Belarus. However, this was merely a cover to pursue their interests," the report states.

The assessment noted that NTLAB group companies in Russia and Belarus participated in developing military programs, cooperating with Russian and Belarusian military industry entities including the Belarusian Military Academy and the scientific and technical center LEMT, the Skolkovo high-tech park, the Russian scientific and technical center Modul, the Russian company Mikron, and others. Most of these entities are subject to international sanctions.

It said Chernyakhovsky’s son, Nikolai, headed the companies Navitron and Sainstech in Russia, and that the group of companies overseen by the family also included Belarusian companies SoftSistemz, NaviIS, and MikroDizain.

"The activities and connections of these companies in Russia and Belarus posed a threat to national security interests by enabling Russian and Belarusian military industries to acquire technologies developed in Lithuania and elsewhere, thereby contributing to strengthening of the regimes,"the officials concluded.

According to intelligence, hostile states will continue to actively try to obtain sanctioned technologies from the West, as it is unlikely they will be able to supply themselves with advanced products in the near future.