DSS chief: several Russian-linked entities were interested in the management of Achema Group

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BNS 2026-03-07 08:08:27 Comments: 0

Jonavos azoto trąšų gamybos įmonė „Achema“.

According to him, several Russian-linked entities have taken an interest in „Achema Group“ and pre-trial investigations have been opened as well.

„There is certainly more than one case where such attempts have been acquired. There have been more than a few cases of interest in „Achema“ from Russia-linked entities or those cooperating, working, showing interest for Russian purposes, –, – R. Bridikis said on Friday at the presentation of the annual assessment of threats to national security to the intelligence services.

„Some have turned into pre-trial investigations, others are still under investigation. I will leave it unspecified," he added.

The head of the State Security Service declined to comment on whether these Russian-linked entities could be Arūnas Laurinaitis, a minority shareholder in Achema Group, or the Swiss energy company MET Group, which tried to acquire the group earlier but backed out of the plans.

„We will do without specifics, it will not reveal the big picture anyway“, – said R. Bridikis.

Lithuanian intelligence revealed in a threat assessment on Friday that Russian-linked entities were considering acquiring shares in one of Lithuania's largest business groups, Achema Group, and were using intermediaries and lobbying activities to seek favourable institutional positions for their investments.

As BNS wrote, the Swiss energy company „MET Group“ had planned to acquire a stake in Achemos Gruppe“ in 2024, but last May it announced that it was terminating the process of acquiring a controlling stake.

The media has reported on MET Group's links to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and controversial Russian businessmen.

In addition, Laurinaitis, the former president and minority shareholder of Achema Group, also sought a controlling stake in the group, and filed a lawsuit for the right to acquire it in court, but withdrew it in February this year.

A. Laurinaitis has also served as vice-president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LCCI) and headed the LCCI's Business Council for Economic and Trade Cooperation with Russia.