All Baltic States Ban Entry of Cars with Russian Number Plates: Estonia Joins Decision
Estonia is banning the entry of cars with Russian number plates as of 10:00 on Wednesday, 13 September.
"Starting today, in 16 minutes to be precise, Estonia will deny entry to all Russian registered vehicles. They are not welcome here to enjoy privileges freedom has to offer until Ukraine has achieved victory," the Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna wrote on Twitter.
Starting from today, in 1⃣6⃣ minutes to be precise, #Estonia🇪🇪 will deny entry to all Russian registered vehicles.
— Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) September 13, 2023
They are not welcome here to enjoy privileges freedom has to offer until #Ukraine🇺🇦 has achieved victory.
Thus, Estonia will comply with the recommendations of the European Commission, according to which EU countries are not allowed to allow private cars with Russian registration plates to enter the EU.
"Sanctions against Russia have one goal – to force the aggressor state to retreat to its state borders.
Insofar as the European Commission newly further clarified the current sanction and Estonia considers it necessary to utilise all opportunities to raise the price of aggression for Russia, we found in consultation with Latvian and Lithuanian authorities that restrictions are most effective when jointly enforcing sanctions," Interior Minister Läänemets said, quoted by ERR.
The Tax and Customs Department will conduct appropriate procedures if a vehicle with Russian registration plates arrives at a border checkpoint. The user or owner of the vehicle will have to return to Russia with the car or cross the border without it.
On 8 September, the European Commission published an explanation regarding long-established restrictions on importing and exporting goods to or from Russia. They specified that cars and some goods are also banned, regardless of whether they are the personal belongings of travellers.
Lithuania warned that it will stop letting in cars with Russian registration plates except for those travelling in transit to Kaliningrad Oblast after an explanation from the European Commission.
Following Lithuania, Latvia announced the same decision.