The price tag attached to leaving Estonia for Russia by passenger cars is set to rise sharply, nearly doubling starting September 17. The Baltic nation’s Police and Border Guard Department disclosed the change, with confirmation carried by TASS.
For travelers, the fee to reserve a specific border-crossing time will jump to 9 euros from 5 euros for cars, while the fee for buses climbs to 16 euros from 1 euro. The charge for trucks stays at 16 euros. Meanwhile, regular buses will continue to benefit from free reserved-space options, and every driver crossing the border will have access to free, first-come, first-served passage when time slots aren’t required.
Estonian border authorities acknowledge that the price hike is likely to provoke discontent among those who cross for work or daily needs. Yet the report notes that businesses operating waiting areas must stay financially viable, implying that continuing services cannot be offered at a loss indefinitely.
Earlier in September, the European Union released guidance restricting member states from treating certain Russian imports as ordinary goods. The list includes personal vehicles, smartphones, cosmetics, as well as trailers and semi-trailers used for transporting valuables like stones, while household essentials such as toilet paper, shampoos, toothpaste, and cameras also face tighter controls. This EU directive signals a broader move to curb market access and tighten enforcement on cross-border flows.
Finland joined its neighbors in tightening border access, announcing that passenger cars registered in Russia would be barred from entry as of midnight on September 16. This step followed similar measures taken by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all aiming to curb traffic from the Russian registry and to align with a tougher regional approach to border management.
Additionally, reports have emerged from Germany indicating the confiscation of Russian vehicles, underscoring a broader enforcement trend across Europe aimed at sanctions compliance and asset restriction. Source attributions: TASS and related regional authorities.