Authorities in European Union countries can seize vehicles brought into the EU from Russia in violation of existing sanctions.
The EU General Court issued the ruling on Thursday, February 5.
The case was triggered by a lawsuit from a Russian citizen living in Düsseldorf.
The Russian national bought a used car in Russia in January 2023, drove it into Poland in May, then transported it to Düsseldorf on a trailer without license plates and tried to declare it in August 2023.
German customs seized the vehicle, citing Article 3i of European Union Regulation No. 883/2014.
The document bans importing into the EU goods that generate “significant revenue for Russia.”
EU restrictions on imports from Russia apply to all items listed in the prohibited trade categories, the court said.
The court also ruled that registration of cars brought from Russia and present in the EU as of December 19, 2023, is allowed only for vehicles imported into the bloc without violating the embargo.
