In a move announced by Finland’s top diplomat on Friday afternoon, the Nordic country will ban the entry of passenger vehicles registered in Russia starting from Saturday.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stated, “Our decision is for the ban to come into force after midnight,” as quoted by the state broadcaster Yle.
Valtonen also mentioned that the new rules are expected to have a significant impact on the traffic between Finland and Russia.
However, the restrictions will not apply to EU citizens and their immediate circle, diplomats, and those traveling for humanitarian reasons, according to Yle.
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have recently imposed entry bans on Russian-registered cars with no exceptions, following clarification from the European Commission that the import or transfer of goods from Russia is prohibited under existing regulations.
Estonia and Lithuania had previously suggested that cars with Russian license plates would be confiscated if they failed to re-register or leave.
However, Finland’s Valtonen ruled out confiscations in her country. Instead, vehicles with Russian license plates must leave Finland by March 16, 2024, she informed Yle.
Supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny have called on Baltic leaders to lift the vehicle ban, arguing that it negatively impacts Russian war exiles and aligns with the Kremlin’s narrative of anti-Russian sentiments in the West.
Moscow has accused the EU of “racism” for implementing the ban on passenger vehicles, and former President Dmitry Medvedev has called for a suspension of diplomatic relations.
In addition to being a member of the European Union, Finland recently joined NATO, thereby doubling the length of the U.S.-led military alliance’s border with Russia.
Furthermore, Norway, Finland’s neighbor and a country that has endorsed the EU’s sanctions against Russia despite not being an EU member, has stated that it is also contemplating an entry ban on Russian-registered vehicles.
