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LITHUANIA

Fresh questions raised over Saab finances

The future of cash-strapped Swedish automaker Saab remains uncertain after doubts emerged over the finances of potential investor Vladimir Antonov and the revelation that the company has substantial tax debts.

Fresh questions raised over Saab finances

The central bank of Lithuania has accused the bank Snoras, co-owned by Russian financier Vladimir Antonov, of breaking the law and carrying out reckless lending.

This criticism could be what lies at the heart of the procrastination by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to make a final decision regarding Antonov’s future ownership in Saab Automobile, according to Sveriges Radio (SR).

At a meeting in January the board of directors from the Central Bank of Lithuania demanded that the bank, with Antonov as chairman, change their ways.

According to minutes from a meeting that SR has studied, the bank is violating Lithuanian law, isn’t handling trade with stocks and shares and has engaged in reckless lending.

The bank allegedly approved a significant loan to a Russian company, which had been declined by other banks.

But according to Antonov’s spokesperson in Sweden, Lars Carlström, there are other factors lurking behind the EIB’s reluctance to approve Antonov’s involvement in Saab.

“There is a hidden agenda in this matter in which the Swedish government is key. That’s what is hindering the process,” Carlström told the TT news agency.

He thinks that it is a question of prestige and politics.

“They have said no once and therefore want to prove themselves right. Inexplicably, they are willing to risk 10,000 jobs to gain prestige, which seems a bit odd,” Carlström said.

Saab’s cash troubles continue as the Swedish Tax authorities (Skatteverket) revealed on Wednesday that the company owes 34 million Swedish kronor ($5.2 million) in unpaid taxes. The monies owed, mainly in the form of VAT (moms) and payroll taxes, were supposed to have been paid in on Tuesday.

If the company fails to pay the tax agency by the beginning of August they will receive a recovery order from the agency.

If the monies owed still haven’t been paid by the end of the month, the matter will be referred to the Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden).

At the moment the Swedish Enforcement Authority are dealing with 93 claims against the beleaguered automaker.

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LITHUANIA

New army scandal: Germany vows to punish soldiers caught singing anti-Semitic songs

Germany's Defence Minister on Tuesday vowed to severely punish soldiers stationed in Lithuania who were accused of singing racist and anti-Semitic songs, if the allegations turned out to be true.

New army scandal: Germany vows to punish soldiers caught singing anti-Semitic songs
German soldiers training in Saxony-Anhalt in May. credit: dpa-Zentralbild | Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert

“Whatever happened is in no way acceptable,” said Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Those implicated would be “vigorously prosecuted and punished”, she added.

The Spiegel Online news site had on Monday reported that German soldiers in Lithuania sang racist and anti-Semitic songs during a party at a hotel in April.

One had also sought to sexually assault another soldier while he was asleep, a scene which was caught on film, said Spiegel.

According to Spiegel Online, the scenes took place at a party at which soldiers consumed large quantities of alcohol. They are also alleged to have arranged a “birthday table” for Adolf Hitler on April 20th and to have sung songs for him.

It is unclear to what extent more senior ranked soldiers were aware of the incidents.

Three soldiers have been removed from the contingent stationed in the Baltic country and an investigation is ongoing to identify other suspects, said the report.

The German armed forces have been repeatedly rocked by allegations of right-wing extremism within their ranks.

Kramp-Karrenbauer last year ordered the partial dissolution of the KSK commando force after revelations that some of its members harboured neo-Nazi sympathies.

SEE ALSO: Germany to compensate gay soldiers who faced discrimination

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