Georgian authorities have imposed a ban on exporting, re-exporting, or transporting cars that were imported from the European Union to Russia. This measure was reported by the Revenue Administration of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia and corroborated by media summaries from TASS. The action reflects Georgia’s alignment with the EU’s broader sanctions framework and signals a tightening of vehicle movements linked to Russia.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the restrictions take effect as of September 26 and cover exports, re-exports, and transit of vehicles that originated in Europe and are destined for Russia. The policy targets specific vehicle categories, applying to cars with an engine capacity exceeding 1.9 liters and extending to hybrid and electric vehicles as well. The timing corresponds with the European Union’s 11th sanctions package against Russia, with Georgia implementing measures to curb sanctioned trade flows.
Separately, documents indicate that from August 1, Georgia introduced limits on the export and re-export of U.S.-made cars to Russia. After these restrictions were enacted, Russian imports of Georgian-origin vehicles declined sharply, with only 85 units reported in a single period, representing a twelvefold drop from the previous month. These figures illustrate the immediate market impact of the newly imposed controls on cross-border automotive trade.
In a related development, a previous report noted that from January to August 2023, wine shipments from Georgia to Russia grew by 22.7 percent on a year-over-year basis, reaching a value of 112.1 million dollars and a volume of about 41.3 thousand tonnes. The trend underscores Georgia’s diversified export portfolio and how sanctions‑driven policy shifts can influence multiple sectors within bilateral trade relations.
Earlier, Estonia introduced restrictions on entry for vehicles bearing Russian license plates, signaling a broader regional response to the evolving sanctions regime and the tightening of cross-border vehicle movements within the Baltic and neighboring areas.