Poland has joined the Baltic countries and Finland in prohibiting vehicles with Russian registration plates from entering its borders.
This decision, which comes into effect from Sept. 17, aligns Poland with all European Union countries that share a land border with Russia and have already implemented such a ban.
Polish Minister of Internal Affairs, Mariusz Kaminski, announced this on Sept. 16, as reported by PAP. The ban on Russian vehicles entering Polish territory will come into effect from midnight on Sept. 17.
The date is a significant one — on this day in 1939 the Soviet Union executed part of its secret pact with Nazi Germany, invading Poland even as it was fighting off a German invasion that started on Sept. 1. The two dictatorships then divided Poland between them.
This prohibition is in accordance with a directive from the European Commission issued on Sept. 8, which prohibits vehicles registered in Russia from entering the EU. Kaminski emphasized that no vehicles with Russian registration plates will be permitted into Poland.
“Russian trucks have already been subject to this ban. Now we are finalizing the matter.”
“No Russian vehicle will enter Poland. Ladies and gentlemen, this applies to all vehicles, whether used for commercial purposes or privately owned, regardless of whether they are driven by a Russian citizen or a citizen of another country,” the minister said.
He added that this measure is another aspect of sanctions imposed against Russia and its citizens due to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Finland made a similar decision the day before by banning the entry of passenger cars with Russian registration plates. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia had taken this step earlier in the week.
It is expected that Norway (not an EU member but part of the Schengen Zone) and Germany will also announce measures in response to the new recommendations from the European Commission.
Source : Yahoo