Vehicles registered in Russia are prohibited from entering the European Union through the borders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The Baltic countries continue to take the lead in supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions against Russian aggressors. Estonia is the latest among the Baltic countries to announce a ban on the entry into the country of vehicles with Russian license plates. Now entry into the European Union through the borders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is prohibited for vehicles registered in Russia.
How it works
Now the user or owner of a car with Russian license plates has to return to Russia with the car or cross the border without it.
At the same time, the ban applies only to passenger cars with Russian license plates with a capacity of up to nine passengers – buses and motorcycles can still cross the border with Estonia and other Baltic countries.
The website of the Estonian Customs Service also states that the new bans also apply to EU citizens who own vehicles with Russian license plates. Sanctions also apply to Ukrainian refugees if they arrive at the border in Russian vehicles.
Regarding Russian cars already in Estonia, the following was said: “Until a different decision is made, you can temporarily continue using the car within the limits of the rules implemented in Estonia.”
According to Estonian authorities, about 40 cars with Russian license plates per day have entered the country recently. Before the pandemic and war, this number was 17 times higher.
As of Tuesday evening, September 12, cars with Russian license plates are no longer allowed to cross the Latvian border with Belarus and Russia. Latvian authorities explained that it is still possible to leave the country in cars with Russian license plates, if they are used as personal transport.
A few hours earlier, Lithuanian border guards stopped allowing cars with Russian license plates.
In two days, Lithuania did not allow 36 vehicles with Russian license plates on its territory, reports Delfi, citing the words of a Lithuanian customs representative at the Elta agency. On Tuesday, Lithuania did not allow 19 vehicles.
In Germany, they usually confiscate
In July, after several arrests of vehicles with Russian license plates in Germany, the Russian Embassy in Berlin recommended avoiding travel in private vehicles to Europe.
The first arrests and the threat of confiscation became known in May, and by July there were already a dozen cases. The victims spoke about them both in the media and in their social networks.
The clarifications of the European Commission on September 8 and 12 actually confirmed the right of customs to consider the entry of a personal car of Russian origin as the import of goods (car) or importation.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.