Cars imported from Russia into EU countries in violation of sanctions may be confiscated by the decision of the state authorities. This is stated in the ruling of the EU court.
The reason for this ruling was a lawsuit filed by a Russian citizen living in Düsseldorf. Court documents state that in January 2023, he purchased a car in Russia and registered it in his name. Later, he entered Poland with the new car, and from there, the vehicle was transported without license plates to Düsseldorf.
The Russian attempted to register the car in Germany, but customs refused him and seized the vehicle, explaining their actions by European sanctions.
The court ruled that the import of any prohibited goods from Russia into the EU, including cars, violates sanctions. Furthermore, customs authorities are not required to verify whether each such transaction generates revenue for Russia.
In October 2022, the European Union prohibited citizens of Russia from importing passenger cars and other vehicles into the EU that generate significant income for the Russian economy.
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