Lithuania to ban entry of vehicles with Belarusian license plates

July 17, Pozirk. On July 18 Lithuania will stop allowing vehicles with Belarusian license plates to enter its territory, the Lithuanian Customs Department has announced.
The ban would apply to all Belarus-registered passenger cars regardless of the nationality of their owner or driver, it said, citing the European Union Council regulation 2024/1865 of 29 June 2024.
Latvia cited the same regulation a few days ago, banning the entry of vehicles with Belarusian license plates starting July 16.
The regulation, however, is not categorical and gives member states enough room for maneuver not to impose an all-out ban.
It provides that the competent authorities may authorize the entry of vehicles owned by Belarusians with valid visas or resident permits and driving the vehicles into the EU for strict personal use.
Lithuanian Customs Department said that Belarusians with valid visas or residence permits can enter Lithuania in their vehicles until August 16, provided the vehicle is intended for personal use and not for sale. This clause does not apply to company-owned cars or vehicles used for commercial purposes.
Those Belarusians, whose vehicles are already in Lithuania, have until January 18 to take them out of the country or register the vehicles in Lithuania.
In six months, driving vehicles with Belarusian license plates in Lithuania will be considered illegal and punishable by a fine or confiscation.
The ban does not apply to diplomatic vehicles, the Customs Department noted.
The Lithuanian foreign ministry has not yet commented on the new regulations.

Opposition politician calls on Latvia to reconsider ban on Belarusian cars
- EconomyLeak at pipeline carrying oil from RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, Society
- PoliticsMinsk, Moscow brandish "truth axe"The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityZelensky urges B9/Nordic to probe BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus–EU: May sees record number of irregular border crossing attemptsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Economy
- PoliticsAt least 1,936 NGOs shut down since 2020 electionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ deficit in goods trade widens to $2.3 billion in January-AprilThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBrest officials improving commanding skills at three-day drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician optimistic about Nawrocki’s presidencyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsWarsaw’s policy unlikely to change under new president – punditThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja congratulates Poland's Nawrocki on winning presidencyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportIOC funds Belarusian Olympic Committee – Łukašenka’s sonThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus-based Poles back Trzaskowski over Nawrocki who won presidencyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyBelarusian rubel gains 13.7 percent against US dollar since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus stands for speedy Ukraine settlement – ambassadorThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- PoliticsTeach kids courage to be themselves, Cichanoŭskaja says on Children's DayThe material is available only to POZIRK+