After the European Union banned cars with Belarusian plates from entering its territory a month ago, some exceptions have been introduced from August 17, and only Belarusian citizens legally residing in the country and EU citizens living in Belarus will be able to enter Lithuania by car, the Lithuanian Customs has said.
Belarusian citizens holding a Lithuanian visa, a temporary or permanent residence permit in Lithuania and travelling for personal reasons will be allowed to enter Lithuania by car, the customs announced on Friday.
Cars of EU nationals living in Belarus will also be allowed to enter the EU when travelling for personal purposes.
The ban will continue to apply to cars owned by businesses or used for commercial purposes, as well as to vehicles intended for sale.
The decision to grant exemptions was made by the Lithuanian government’s commission for the coordination of international sanctions.
The exemptions are based on an assessment of the need to support Belarusian civil society, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
“As a member of the European Union, Lithuania consistently and systematically applies EU regulations. At the same time, while assessing the actions of other regional partners, practical aspects of the ban and continuing the dialogue with representatives of the Belarusian opposition, assessing the need to support the Belarusian civil society, we are applying the options provided for in the regulation accordingly,” the ministry told BNS.
Cars with Belarusian plates were banned from entering Lithuania on July 18. Those who arrived before this date have been given six months until January 18, 2025, to leave or re-register the car in the EU. After that date, they will not be allowed to stay in Lithuania and their owners will face fines and confiscation of their cars.
However, the ban does not apply to cars with diplomatic plates when they are necessary for the activities of diplomatic and consular missions or for the personal use of diplomats.
Cars registered in Belarus are also allowed to enter Lithuania if they are carrying the remains of the dead.
Indre Strončikaitė, a representative of Vilnius Territorial Customs, told BNS that 49 Belarusian-registered cars were refused entry at the Medininkai border crossing until August 16, and 17 cars were turned around at the Šalčininkai border crossing.
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