Lithuania has enforced a ban on cars with Russian license plates, effective from Monday, with exceptions made for diplomatic vehicles and vehicles transiting through Lithuania to and from Russia's Kaliningrad region, as stated by the Customs Department.
As of March 11, drivers found with Russian license plates will be considered in violation of the legislation and subject to penalties under the Code of Administrative Offences, the Customs Department announced.
Approximately 50 Russian-registered cars remain on Lithuanian territory, with their owners facing fines ranging from €200 to €6,000 ($219 to $6,561). The authority warned that these vehicles would be confiscated unless they departed from the country.
Russian citizens traveling to or from Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast via Lithuania, with appropriate documentation, are exempt from the ban. However, transit through Lithuania must not exceed 24 hours, as per Customs regulations.
Additionally, vehicles will not be permitted to enter Lithuania unless their owners are physically present in the car.
This ban follows Lithuania's initial prohibition on cars with Russian license plates from entering its territory in September of the previous year, following a recommendation from the European Commission. All Baltic countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, have implemented similar bans, along with Poland, Finland, Norway, and Bulgaria.
News ID : 2970