Russian and Belarusian trucks, which were obliged to exit Lithuania until April 16 due to the European Union sanctions, would be allowed to do that after this deadline, the Lithuanian Customs Department announced on Friday, adding that this decision was made in view of the long queues of trucks at the border.
“Trucks used by Russian and Belarusian haulers will be allowed to cross the border after the deadline, provided they join the line of vehicles waiting to exit Lithuania before midnight of April 16. The duration of waiting in the line is beyond the haulers’ control,” the department said in a press release.
Read more: Unprecedented queues form on Lithuania-Belarus border following EU's sanctions
If trucks were to join the queue later, they would be deemed in violation of the deadline of departure. They would not be allowed to leave and would have to hand the goods over to other haulers, according to the Customs Department.
“Those vehicles that are late to arrive will be directed to the nearest logistical hubs or terminals to enable them to unload the goods and hand them over to another hauler that is not subject to sanctions,” it said, adding that empty trucks would then be allowed to cross Lithuania’s border with Russia or Belarus without any restrictions.
The EU sanctions, banning Russian and Belarusian haulers from operating in the EU member states, came into force late last week. Russian and Belarusian trucks were given seven days to leave the territory of the EU, and April 16 marks the end of the transitional period.
Exclusions apply to essentials, such as agricultural and food products, humanitarian assistance, and energy resources. The ban also excludes Russia’s transit to its exclave of Kaliningrad via Lithuania.
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