Finland bans Russian-registered vehicles starting on September 16

Finland on Friday joined the three Baltic countries in banning vehicles with Russian license plates from entering their territory, a joint move in line with a recent interpretation of the European Union’s sanctions against Moscow over its war on Ukraine.

The Nordic EU member’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the ban would stop private cars from entering Finland as of Friday midnight, Finnish broadcaster YLE said.

Earlier this week, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania imposed the measure. Estonia said the decision followed “the additional interpretation of the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation published by the European Commission” on September 8. 

According to the explanation, provided by the European Commission on September 8, import of goods, listed in the EU Directive 833/2014, from Russia to the EU, regardless of the intended purpose, is prohibited - which includes cars with total number of seats less than 10. The European Commission underscored that it makes no difference whether the vehicles are intended for private or commercial use. The list includes a wide array of goods, from cell phones and recording devices to briefcases, clothes, toothpaste, shampoo and other hygienic supplies.