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VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania says it has summoned Russia's ambassador to complain about repeated Russian naval activities disrupting peaceful shipping and economic activity in Lithuanian waters.
Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said Friday that it was particularly concerned about attempts to interfere with the ongoing construction of an undersea power link between Lithuania and Sweden through the Baltic Sea.
It said a Russian navy vessel entered Lithuania's economic zone April 30 and illegally ordered a course change for a Swedish-owned ship laying the 400 kilometer (250 mile) power cable.
"For the time being, the cable isn't covered with sand, and we have a special ship patrolling at the site to warn other vessels not to damage it with nets or anchors," Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told Lithuania's national radio. "This ship has repeatedly been chased away by Russian military vessels".
The ministry said it was the fourth such incident in the past two months. Each has prompted a protest from Lithuania.
Ministry spokesman Kestutis Vaskelevicius said Lithuania did not receive any explanation from Russia's ambassador or other Russian officials Friday.
The power cable running from the Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda to Nybro, Sweden, is planned for launch in December.
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