Germany refused to make exceptions to sanctions for incoming Russians

Germany has not ruled out the confiscation of any goods subject to sanctions from incoming Russians . Previously , the European Commission clarified that the restrictions also apply to personal cars, laptops and smartphones.

Germany will not make exceptions from EU sanctions for Russians entering the country - any goods subject to the embargo can, in principle, be confiscated. This is stated in the response of German customs to a request from a Russian citizen who planned to enter Germany (the request was made at the request of RBC; RBC has a response dated September 12).

On September 8, the European Commission clarified the rules for applying sanctions already in force in 2022, according to which entry into the EU countries in passenger cars registered in RUSSIA will be regarded as prohibited import . Also included in the category of prohibited goods are cosmetics, shower products, toothpastes, soaps, women's suits and dresses with skirts, shoes, smartphones, cameras and other things (more than 160 items in total).

The fact that entry into German territory in a personal car from Russia will be regarded by German customs authorities as grounds for arresting the car became known at the beginning of July. Then several Russian citizens faced the seizure of their cars in Germany. During the arrest, German customs officers referred to EU regulation No. 833/2014.

The new customs clarification states that all goods listed in Annex XXI to Regulation No. 833/2014, including smartphones, laptops, etc., are subject to an import ban in accordance with the sanctions. “There is no general exception related to personal use of them.” persons entering from Russia are not provided for,” the department said. The only current exception to the embargo is permission for EU citizens and members of their families to buy sanctioned goods in Russia for personal use, as well as a similar permission for European diplomatic workers in Russia.

Embargoed goods may be detained, confiscated or confiscated and, if necessary, processed, German customs said in a response. “Checks at customs points aimed at compliance with the embargo are carried out with a risk-based approach,” the agency added, which implies possible seizures only in selected cases.

They emphasized that the restrictions have been in effect since the entry into force of the eighth EU sanctions package against Russia in October 2022 (it was then that Annex XXI was significantly expanded, including to include cosmetics, smartphones, cars, etc.). At the same time, a representative of the European Commission previously clarified to RBC that each EU country will make its own decision on how to implement the sanctions.

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After reports of the seizure of Russian cars in Germany, the Russian Embassy called on citizens to refrain from traveling to Germany in their own cars “until the situation is clarified.” The Russian authorities also criticized the EC's explanations published in this regard .

Acting HEAD of the Federal Customs Service Ruslan Davydov called the ban for Russians on the import of personal belongings “complete lawlessness,” but ruled out a mirror response. At the same time, the head of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, Andrei Klishas, ​​said that “only reciprocal restrictions on EU citizens can influence the enraged European bureaucrats and influence the abolition of such discriminatory rules.”