Residents of the Baltics told how they hide cars with Russian license plates

On September 10, the European Commission confirmed that entry into the EU countries with cars registered in Russia can be regarded as prohibited import.

On September 13, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania began to turn around cars with Russian license plates.

Russians living in the Baltic states were warned that it was better to get rid of cars. It is possible that they may be confiscated.

We talked about the situation with our compatriot who lives in Riga.

Roman and his family have been living in Riga for more than 5 years. He has a car with Russian license plates, but for a year and a half now he has preferred to travel in a rented car to avoid unnecessary questions from local residents.

Roman speaks out sharply about recent events.

– They just got it. The children of our elite live here and feel quite well. They easily bypass sanctions and restrictions with their money. But ordinary citizens are suffering,” the man is indignant. – It is unbearable. People found themselves in a stalemate. I have a Latvian residence permit and I’m scared to stay here. I live in an apartment with cardboard walls, like a chicken coop. Naturally, all the neighbors know me. Our relationship is good, but I no longer trust anyone, I walk around and look around. There is my old car with Russian license plates in the yard. If they start confiscating cars, I won’t be surprised if the neighbors turn me in. I don’t use this machine, I don’t know what to do with it.

Each country chooses for itself how to implement sanctions. It’s like during Covid – each state has its own bells and whistles. For example, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia decided not to allow cars with Russian license plates, but Finland ignored these rules. Perhaps for the time being. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a couple of weeks the Finns are finished off too. But they warned that if they make any decision on the cars, they will notify you in advance.

I heard that Latvia has given time to remove their cars. We talked with the customs officer, he said it was better to leave within 10 days. Where will I take mine? I have no one in Russia. The price of my car in Europe is 1500 euros, I was thinking of selling it for spare parts. Then I saw that in Russia it costs several times more, it became a pity. I have a friend who has a large plot of land, I think I should move it to him and cover it with a cover so that no one can see. Or I’ll go to a friend in Spain and stage it there. It’s simply unbearable, it’s so squeezed from all sides.

But Ukrainians have a “green light” here. I’m walking along a small street at a pedestrian crossing, a jeep with Ukrainian license plates is rushing by, and he stopped. Russians don’t behave like that. And Ukrainians here feel like masters of the world. The parking lot in the most fashionable shopping center is filled with Mercedes and Porsches with Ukrainian license plates.

According to the interlocutor, Russians in the Baltic states are now trying to hide their cars.

– Lucky are those who rent not an apartment, but a house with a plot. I put the car in the garage, locked it and forgot about it until better times. Many people do this. I recently went to Jurmala, there are a lot of cars with Moscow license plates, I wonder where they will go?

The Lithuanians explained that they would not look at the registration of cars, but would deprive them of transport based on the driver’s citizenship, that is, on the basis of nationality. Conventionally, a certain citizen with an EU passport or permanent residence permit can enter with Russian license plates, but not with a residence permit. Latvia said it would look at the registration numbers.

The other day a friend from Lithuania called me. He has a Russian wife with a residence permit and drives a car with Russian license plates. He’s wondering where to hide the car. You won’t sell it quickly, unless for pennies. We decided to remove the numbers or put up others, let them stand.

Estonia and Germany are the ones that are making the most gestures so far. It all started in Germany when they started seizing cars there.

In my opinion, the Baltics would never have come up with this law on their own. After a year and a half they were tired of everything. It’s just that the Baltic countries act like respectable members of the EU. As I understand it, the Germans initiated the sanctions on cars.

Every day the life of emigrants becomes more complicated. Many people thought about returning. Renewing the same residence permit is now difficult and expensive. Well, life here is expensive. Latvians themselves admit that a family with two children spends 3-4 thousand euros – this is only for food, medicine, and utilities. If you want to use a car, travel, rent an apartment, add a couple more thousand.

On social networks, people are actively sharing what to do with cars with Russian license plates that are located in the EU.

“Urgently sell to the Russian Federation or a third country.”

“Change Russian license plates to Belarusian ones.”

“Russian Mercs and BMWs are easily sold in EU countries. Personally drove 50 cars. I’m thinking of going to Montenegro and picking up my swallow there as an option.”

“I put the car up for sale. A buyer from Russia was found within half an hour.”

Read also: “The locals will knock”: a Latvian woman spoke about the confiscation of Russians’ cars