Russia’s Foreign Ministry criticizes EU's decision to restrict entry of Russian cars

The Ministry's response came in light of the European Commission's clarification on sanctions imposed against Russia on September 10. 

These sanctions included a ban on Russians entering EU countries in cars registered in Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry described these measures as "beyond absurd" and said that this is "not the first anti-Russian action" aimed at "harming ordinary Russians."

They accused the current EU leadership of attempting to create a new "iron curtain" in Europe, limiting people's interactions.

The ministry suggested that the European Commission's actions are deliberate and aimed at creating legal uncertainty while encouraging EU member states to discriminate against Russians based on nationality.

What we know regarding the ban on cars with Russian license plates

On September 10, the European Commission imposed sanctions preventing Russians from entering EU countries using cars registered in Russia. These sanctions also included restrictions on the import of personal belongings like smartphones, jewelry, and laptops.

Lithuania implemented a one-year ban on the transport of dual-purpose goods to prevent them from entering Russia and Belarus.

Starting on September 13, Estonia banned cars with Russian Federation license plates from entering the country due to sanctions. Lithuania and Latvia had adopted similar bans the day before.

On September 15, Finland announced a ban on importing cars with Russian registration. The country aimed to align with EU restrictions on the Russian Federation. Owners of vehicles in Finland were required to deregister by March 16, 2024, affecting all cars with Russian license plates.