According to the European Commission’s explanations and the opinion provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Revenue Service informs that as of yesterday, 12 September, persons with vehicles registered in the Russian Federation are prohibited from entering the European Union through the Latvian-Russian and Latvian-Belarusian border crossing points.
Taking into account the European Commission’s explanation of 8 September 2023 regarding the application of Article 3.i of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine with regard to the vehicles registered in the Russian Federation and the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act according to this explanation, as of 18:00 on 12 September 2023 persons are prohibited from entering the territory of the Republic of Latvia by vehicles registered in the Russian Federation through the Latvian-Russian and Latvian-Belarusian border crossing points. A similar decision has already been adopted by Lithuania as well.
Until now, it was prohibited to cross the border of the European Union for cargo carriers, namely, trucks and trailers registered in the Russian Federation. The prohibition did not apply to road transport companies registered in Russia, which transport freights by road in transit through the European Union between the Kaliningrad Oblast and Russia.
Further on, the entry of vehicles registered in the Russian Federation to the European Union through Latvian border crossing points will be prohibited. Persons driving vehicles registered in the Russian Federation will be denied of entry to the European Union in them, when crossing the State border of the Republic of Latvia. Persons with the said vehicles will have to return to the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus from a border crossing point.
If a person refuses to comply with the instructions of a customs office, including returning to the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus, a decision might be adopted on the confiscation of a vehicle in accordance with customs laws and regulations.
Legal acts of the Republic of Latvia stipulate criminal liability for the non-observance of sanctions. Thus, we encourage refraining from repeated attempts to enter the European Union through various border crossing points.
The said prohibition on entry will not apply to vehicles intended for the use of diplomatic and consular missions of the European Union and Member States, including delegations, embassies and missions, when they move.
In addition, please be informed that persons will be allowed to return from the European Union to Russia by cars registered in the Russian Federation, if they are not declared as goods and are used only as means of transport.