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Arūnas Grigaliūnas, the head of Refta, who got into this situation, told Eltai that the bank had informed them that no payments would be made for the use of Russian roads.
SEB Bank was surprised. A month ago I asked to present the documents to which orders are made here, we presented all the documents that indicate the circulation tax here, the contract of our service, and now a month has passed and I officially delivered a letter indicating that it is not they will lose taxes, ”said A. Grigaliūnas.
According to him, the company’s drivers are still driving in Russia for funds previously transferred to the road tax system.
“While we make the deposit, they (ELTA) are still driving, but now we are consulting with everyone, because we are going to Russia for 25 years.” Here you have to pay the state highway tax, I do not understand what is happening. They (bank – ELTA) declared no (they will not execute orders – ELTA). We are now consulting, looking for ways to address this problem. In the unknown until now, “said the head of the Eltai company.
“We cannot stop the business, we have to find ways to solve the problem, we still do not have an answer,” he added.
Mečislavas Atroškevičius, Secretary General of the Linava Carriers Association, said that so far there are still few companies that have found themselves in such a situation, but that soon there will be more.
“So far, there are not many companies, but there is a sign, the official responses that they will not follow those orders, which worries us.” This is already a fact, but until now there have been no solutions. Our operators do not always turn to the association, they are looking for other ways to cope without the association’s help, but today we have evidence that such solutions already exist. We have received responses from specific banks that they will not make such transfers, “Linava’s secretary general told Eltai.
He said he suspected payments on account of Russian oligarch Igor Rotenberg, who owns shares in RT-Invest Transport System, which operates Russia’s highway tax system. The last Russian billionaire is known as a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If we are told that this is part of the bank’s internal policy, which is related to the requirements of the Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Law, then I understand that it is related to some type of sanctions.” I can assume that this is because one of the shareholders of that company is the oligarch Igor Rotenberg.
The bottom line is that it is a state system, it was introduced in 2015 in the Russian Federation. (…) She won the tender and signed a contract with the Government, they only administer the system. In fact, we are not transferring money to a Rotenberg or a company, but to the Russian state as a road tax, because that tax and fee has been established by the Government of the Russian Federation, ”said M. Atroškevičius.
Lithuanian carriers have registered their tractors in this system since November 15, 2015, when it was introduced. The biggest problem, according to the Linava representative, is that trucks that did not pay for the roads will be punished.
“In Russia, no one will allow you to travel on credit until you transfer that money. If you have scanners, it will be deducted for every kilometer and then it will be deducted from your general account. Imagine if you drive and the deposit expires. If it doesn’t add up, it turns red. It automatically treats you as if you were driving on unpaid roads. All vehicles to be photographed will be included in the criminal list. This is a problem, “M. Atroškevičius told Eltai.
According to the Linava representative, neither neighboring Poles nor Latvians have encountered similar problems.
“It is difficult for the transport sector anyway. (…) Why are we able to constantly climb onto a rake in a level place and make ourselves a problem? It is not an easy period for us, why can we find That rake in a flat place?
After contacting SEB Bank, Elta stated that the orders were not executed due to applicable international sanctions.
“In carrying out its activities, the Bank complies with the requirements of the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the Law of Implementation of Economic Sanctions and Other International Sanctions. Therefore, you have the right, in certain cases, to suspend operations and refuse to make payments to the accounts of certain companies if you establish links with companies or persons subject to international sanctions.
We note that SEB Bank complies with sanctions applied by both the EU and the US. USA In accordance with its internal policy and risk tolerance, “said the bank.
The Linava Association asked the Bank of Lithuania, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Communications, for the situation.
The Bank of Lithuania confirmed the application of the association.
“The Bank of Lithuania received a letter from Linava about the problem with settlements on Russian roads this morning (Wednesday – ELTA). We understand the importance of the problem for carriers, we operationally assess the essence of the problem and the reasons to the extent which is within the competence of the Bank of Lithuania, ”says Eltai in the comment by the Central Bank of Lithuania.
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