“Of them, 17 (wanted to go – BNS) through the Kybartai road post, one – through the Medininkai road post, one – through the Lavoriškiä road post. Customs continues to not allow cars with Russian license plates,” Customs Department representative Irmina Frolova-Milašienė told BNS on Wednesday.
According to the EC’s clarification presented at the end of last week, cars purchased or registered in Russia cannot be entered into the European Union.
Customs has been following these interpretations since Monday, they do not apply to transit to or from the Kaliningrad region.
A total of 36 Russian cars turned around at the Lithuanian border in two days when their drivers found out that the vehicle was in danger of being confiscated after crossing the border.
According to BNS, the customs office, after determining that the car is registered in Russia at the border post, the officials warn the driver that the vehicle cannot be entered into the territory of Lithuania.
“The driver is also warned that if he tries to enter again, he is liable for violation of international sanctions according to Article 515 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, according to which the person faces a fine and the confiscation of the car,” according to the customs’ commentary on the ongoing procedures.
The Director General of the Customs Department, Darius Žvironas, told LRT radio on Wednesday that if the drivers of cars with Russian license plates did not obey the legal instructions of the officers, administrative proceedings would be initiated and those cars would be detained and probably confiscated by a court decision.
According to him, some Russian citizens have not yet heard about this new regulation, so he predicts that attempts to travel with cars will decrease every day.
According to D. Žviron, Lithuania is “one step ahead” compared to other countries. On Tuesday, according to him, the customs officials of Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Poland were spoken to.
Among other things, the EC document indicates that the ban on entering the EU territory also includes some personal items, such as personal hygiene products or clothes, smartphones, computers, but when deciding what to confiscate, it is advised to follow the principles of proportionality and reasonableness. However, how to specifically apply this part of the sanctions, the representatives of the Ministries of Foreign and Internal Affairs, customs are still trying to figure out.
These EU sanctions are aimed at restricting the entry of goods from Russia into the Community.
In turn, Lithuania, together with the Baltic states and Poland, has also made it difficult for Russians to enter the country and the European Union.
Only persons who meet the criteria approved by the Government are allowed to enter Lithuania: Russian diplomats, dissidents, employees of transport companies, family members of EU citizens, as well as Russians holding residence permits or long-term national visas from Schengen countries.
Also, Russian citizens can continue to travel to and from the Kaliningrad region via Lithuania via transit trains.
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#hours #Russian #cars #turned #border #officials #warned #sanctions
**Interview with Irmina Frolova-Milašienė, Customs Department Representative**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Irmina. Can you walk us through the current situation regarding Russian cars attempting to enter Lithuania?
**Irmina Frolova-Milašienė:** Absolutely. As of now, we have encountered a significant number of attempts by drivers of Russian-registered cars to cross into Lithuania. In the past two days alone, 36 such vehicles had to turn around upon learning that they couldn’t enter. Our customs officials are now implementing strict regulations based on recent clarifications from the European Commission.
**Interviewer:** What specific regulations are we talking about?
**Irmina Frolova-Milašienė:** The European Commission clarified that vehicles purchased or registered in Russia are prohibited from entering any EU territory, including Lithuania. This measure is part of broader sanctions against Russia, and our customs officials have been instructed to enforce this since the start of the week.
**Interviewer:** How are customs officials dealing with these vehicles at the border?
**Irmina Frolova-Milašienė:** When vehicles are identified as Russian at the border posts, our officers inform the drivers that entry is not allowed. The drivers also receive a warning that repeated attempts may lead to fines or even vehicle confiscation under international sanctions laws.
**Interviewer:** Have there been any notable incidents or responses from the drivers?
**Irmina Frolova-Milašienė:** Yes, there have been instances of confusion among some Russian citizens who are not yet aware of these new regulations. Director General Darius Žvironas mentioned that as awareness spreads, we expect the number of attempts to significantly decline.
**Interviewer:** How does Lithuania’s approach compare to that of its neighbors?
**Irmina Frolova-Milašienė:** Lithuania is taking a proactive stance. We are one step ahead in implementing these regulations compared to neighboring countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Poland. We’ve already discussed our approaches with customs officials from these countries to ensure consistency in enforcement.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Irmina, for providing clarity on this important issue.
**Irmina Frolova-Milašienė:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we maintain the integrity of these sanctions for the safety and security of the EU.
