Estonian and Lithuanian officials have warned that passenger vehicles with Russian license plates could soon be confiscated following a Baltics-wide entry ban.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia issued back-to-back entry bans this week for Russian-registered cars after the European Commission clarified that existing regulations prohibit the import or transfer of goods originating in Russia.
“These cars [with Russian license plates] will have to be confiscated, we have to come to that,” Estonia’s Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets said Thursday, according to the Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti.
He asked: “Why do cars with Russian license plates drive in Estonia? If these cars are constantly moving here, maybe they should be registered in Estonia?”
Laanemets noted that he was expressing his personal opinion on the issue of Russian-registered cars inside Estonia, which he planned to raise at a cabinet session on Thursday.
Lithuania’s customs chief Darius Zvironas issued a similar warning, telling the local radio station LRT on Wednesday that drivers “may face charges and have their vehicles confiscated” for failing to comply with instructions.
Meanwhile, supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny urged Baltic leaders to lift the vehicle ban on claims that they harm Russian war exiles and play into the Kremlin’s narrative of anti-Russian feelings in the West.
Moscow has accused the EU of “racism” for its ban on passenger vehicles, while former President Dmitry Medvedev called for a suspension of diplomatic relations.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
