Zakharova advised Russians not to travel to Latvia in private cars

Russians are better off not visiting Latvia in private cars. This was stated by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, during a briefing.

She connected the recommendation with the sharply worsening hostile situation in Latvia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with the bill adopted by the Latvian parliament, according to which cars belonging to Russians could be confiscated.

“As for this right-wing lawlessness that is happening in the Baltic countries, we will continue to take retaliatory measures, including asymmetrical ones, which is what we are doing,” Zakharova added.

She did not rule out that other European states could adopt such laws in the future. In this case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will recommend refusing to visit them in private cars, Zakharova added.

Let us recall that earlier in Latvia, amendments to the road traffic law were adopted in the first reading, which provide for a ban on the presence in the country of cars with Russian license plates.

On September 8, the EC issued clarifications according to which Russian citizens were prohibited from entering the European Union with personal smartphones, cars, jewelry and laptops. It was noted that Russians crossing the EU border cannot bring with them mobile phones, laptops, suitcases, cosmetics, leather and fur products, semi-precious stones, toilet paper, shampoos, toothpastes, cameras. EU customs authorities may not allow them through. It is also prohibited to enter the EU countries with cars registered in Russia – this will be regarded as prohibited import. Later, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as Finland, refused to allow cars with Russian license plates into their territories. On October 3, Norway also introduced an entry ban for passenger cars with Russian registration.