European Commission bans Russians from entering EU by car, with valuables 

As part of the sanctions against Russia, the European Commission has banned Russians from entering EU countries in Russia-registered cars, and from importing personal belongings such as smartphones, jewelry and laptops

This was reported by the Russian news agency Rbc.ru.

"It is not relevant whether the use of the vehicles is private or commercial as long as the vehicles are falling under a CN code listed in Annex XXI (e.g. CN code 8703) and are originating in or are being exported from Russia," the European Commission said in a statement cited by the outlet.

The Russian media emphasizes that in the summer, cars of Russians trying to get to Germany were arrested at customs. In early June, German customs confirmed that Article 3i of Regulation 833/2014 defines an embargo on Russia, prohibiting any movement of goods, even for personal, non-commercial purposes.

Russian lawyers were outraged that Article 3i prohibits the import of goods that "generate significant revenues for Russia". They called it "an abuse by the executive authorities or a misinterpretation of German customs law regarding the difference between importing and entering the country by private car." 

Rbc.ru adds that on September 4, the Russian Embassy in Germany reported cases of German customs seizing personal cars from Russians registered in Russia and temporarily imported for personal use or transit.

"The arguments that in this case we are not talking about the importation of goods intended for sale, but about private property used for personal purposes and temporarily imported into Germany on legal grounds are not taken into account," the embassy said.

• Lithuania has imposed a one-year ban on the transportation of dual-use goods through the country and from it to prevent them from reaching Russia and Belarus.