In order to implement the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) against Russia in the most effective way and reduce the possibilities for circumventing them, Latvia, together with other EU Member States in the region, advocated for the alignment of sanctions targeting Russia and Belarus.
The regime of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus has been increasing instability across the region for several years, implementing hybrid activities at the EU’s external border, forcing a plane from another country to land in Minsk, as well as supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Brutal human rights violations are also perpetrated in Belarus on a mass scale, as the regime retaliates against its political opponents and civil society: Belarus has about 1,400 political prisoners.
Belarus has so far been widely used to circumvent EU sanctions imposed against Russia, thus helping Russia to continue imports of sanctioned goods through Belarus. In circumvention of EU sanctions, cars from the EU were imported to Russia, and brought from Russia to Europe via Belarus.
Given the involvement of Belarus in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as to prevent the circumvention of sanctions, Latvia and other like-minded EU countries have been working actively to align sanctions against Russia and Belarus. This past 30 June, EU Member States adopted the 8th sanctions package against Belarus, which includes restrictions previously imposed on Russia, including the entry ban into the EU for passenger vehicles registered in Belarus.
At the same time, Latvia stands up for, and will continue to support and provide the necessary assistance to Belarusian civil society and democratic forces, including by applying the instruments provided for in laws and regulations to address specific exceptional situations.
In view of the involvement of Belarus in Russia’s full-scale hostilities against Ukraine, and an increased activity of the Russian and Belarusian forces on the Belarusian territory, significant security risks exist, and the current development of the security situation is unpredictable; therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to strongly advise Latvian nationals against travelling to Belarus. Travellers can be subject to provocations on the part of Belarusian authorities, falsely accused of violating the Belarusian law and arrested as a result. According to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, four Latvian nationals have been detained in Belarus this year and 31 have been detained since 2022. Due to the lack of rule of law in Belarus, Latvia’s possibilities of rendering assistance to such persons are very limited.
Facts
- On 1 July 2024, the 8th round of sanctions against Belarus took effect, by which the EU has largely aligned its sanctions imposed on Belarus with those targeting Russia, including the ban on imports of Belarus-registered cars into the EU territory.
- To ensure implementation of sanctions imposed by the EU, the Latvian State Revenues Service Customs Board passed a decision to ban persons travelling in Belarus-registered vehicles from entering the Republic of Latvia as of 16 July 2024.
- The entry ban does not apply to passenger cars intended for use by diplomatic and consular representations, including delegations, embassies and missions.
- The ban also does not apply to passenger cars to be used for humanitarian purposes such as evacuation or repatriation of persons.
- If a person refuses to comply with the customs authorities’ instructions, incl. to return to Belarus or Russia, under the customs legislation, the Customs Board may decide on the confiscation of the vehicle.
- Passenger cars registered in Belarus that entered the EU territory before16 July will be allowed to return.
- The entry of cars registered in Belarus has been prohibited by Estonia and Finland, while Lithuania and Poland are planning a similar measure.
