In late June, a report circulated in the Russian press stating that Russian citizens‘ own vehicles were confiscated by German customs upon their arrival in Germany. The customs authority justified this action by claiming that importing a car violated the European Union’s sanctions regulations. Specifically, this pertains to an EU regulation with an appendix that outlines what cannot be exported from Russia to the EU.
For a long time, it was unclear whether this behavior of the customs was an unreasonably strict interpretation of EU rules. This is because the affected cars were not intended to be exported from Russia and sold in Germany, but rather served as a means of transportation for Russian travelers on their round trips. A case became public in which a Russian successfully fought to have his initially confiscated car returned.
Was die Zeitung „Kommersant“ schreibt
The statement from the European Commission on September 9 regarding this issue received significant attention in the Russian media. It not only clarified the legality of seizing such vehicles under the EU Council Regulation, even if they are only temporarily in the EU, but also addressed the confiscation of other temporarily imported goods, as outlined in a comprehensive list.
According to the Russian media portal RBK, citing information from the European Commission, it is reported that smartphones, laptops, cosmetics, and even suitcases cannot be brought from Russia into the EU as they are also included in the list. Many other Russian media outlets immediately picked up the news. The respected newspaper Kommersant even saw „shampoos, toothpaste, and toilet paper“ threatened with confiscation during travels.
The Berliner Zeitung asked a spokesperson from the EU Commission if it is expected to confiscate the personal belongings of Russian travelers at the EU external borders. However, the spokesperson only stated that „The sanctions package, like all previous ones, is a joint decision of all 27 member states of the European Union. The implementation and control are then the responsibility of the national authorities.“
Therefore, the ball is in Berlin’s court. That’s why Der Freitag asked the responsible press office of the German Customs whether such seizures are legally possible in their view and whether the Customs has a corresponding practice. The Customs press office responded very generally: The import of goods listed in the EU regulation that generate significant revenue for Russia is prohibited. „All goods listed there [in the sanction regulation] are subject to the ban.“ Exceptions would only apply to diplomatic staff. So, no smartphones or shampoo for Russians traveling to Germany?
Reisen aus Russland verunmöglichen
The statement of a spokesperson from the EU Commission to Deutsche Welle sounds slightly more generous but equally uncertain: „It is unlikely that the clothing a person wears when crossing the border is intended to circumvent EU sanctions (…). This is a completely different situation compared to an expensive car.“ However, what about the gray area in between, such as an expensive laptop or mobile phone?
The head of the Department of Politics at the Eastern Europe Institute of the Free University of Berlin, Alexander Libman, believes that the opinion of the EU Commission is interpreted by bureaucracy, which may not necessarily reflect the intentions of the EU countries. It is doubtful, according to Libman, whether it would hold up in the European Court of Justice. However, not every traveler will go as far as taking their case to the highest judicial authority if customs confiscates their belongings.
Libman hält die Auffassung des Zolls und der EU-Kommission vor allem politisch für ein fatales Signal. „Was man durch diese Regelung erreichen wird, ist eher, dass die russischen Bürgerinnen und Bürger umso überzeugter sein werden, dass Wladimir Putin Recht hat: Die Maßnahmen der EU richten sich gegen einfache Russinnen und Russen, gegen das ganze Volk. Das Regime wird seine Propaganda noch überzeugender verkaufen.“ Mit Libman konform geht der österreichische Russlandexperte Alexander Dubowy: „Offenbar möchte die EU jedwede Reisetätigkeit aus Russland verunmöglichen. Eine sehr bedenkliche Entwicklung. Damit spielt man nur Putin in die Hände.“
„Abschaffung der russischen Kultur“
Dass die Experten damit richtig liegen, zeigt ein Blick in die regierungsnahe russische Presse. So zitiert die Onlinezeitung Lenta den Duma-Abgeordneten Dmitri Nowikow aus dem Auswärtigen Ausschuss: „Diese Entscheidung zeigt, dass der Kampf [der EU] nicht nur gegen Offizielle, sondern auch gegen das russische Volk geführt wird. Das passt gut zum Konzept der Abschaffung der russischen Kultur, das vor einiger Zeit in den herrschenden Kreisen der EU so populär geworden ist.“
Real stößt man mit der Regelung vor allem Russen vor den Kopf, die Kontakte in westliche Länder halten wollen und in den seltensten Fällen zu den Unterstützern des Kreml-Regimes zählen. Für Unterstützer der Invasion im ukrainischen Nachbarland hingegen ist eine Reise in die EU schon seit dem vergangenen Jahr kein Thema mehr. Die russische Regierung wiederum geht beim Umgang mit Reisenden aus dem Westen den umgekehrten Weg. Zur Vermeidung von Bürokratie wird seit kurzem für Reisen nach Moskau oder Sankt Petersburg ein einfach von daheim beantragbares E-Visum angeboten. Damit möchte man vor allem diejenigen im Westen ansprechen, die dort den Kurs des Kreml unterstützen und sie ins eigene Land locken. In Sachen strategische Beeinflussung der Stimmung beim geopolitischen Gegner hat Russland die Nase vorn.