The Estonian Prime Minister, Krišen Michal, has declared that starting from August 8, full customs control will be implemented on the border with Russia for all individuals and goods crossing it, as reported by ERR.
Michal stressed the importance of Estonia’s commitment to preventing the transportation of sanctioned goods and enhancing national security. He highlighted the ongoing attempts to evade sanctions and transport prohibited items across the border, amidst Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. The introduction of full control aims to disrupt the flow of sanctioned goods and impede support to the Russian military.
Furthermore, Michal informed local authorities, freight carriers, and bus companies about the forthcoming changes. This means that every person and their belongings will undergo inspection when crossing the border on foot.
The government anticipates that the shift to full customs control, instead of selective checks, will lead to longer crossing times, potentially reducing the number of border crossings. The decision to bolster customs control was reached during a government meeting on July 4.
Earlier in May, reports surfaced about Russian border guards delaying night buses with passengers for extended periods at the Russian checkpoint “Shumilkino” on the Estonian border. One passenger recounted an incident where an Ecolines bus was held up for three hours without explanation, followed by extensive questioning of a third of the passengers by FSB officers upon clearance.
Article from theins.ru