The EU wants to leave Russians without luxury cars: Financial Times reveals the plan

The European Union is considering tightening sanctions against Belarus and closing a loophole that allowed Moscow to import goods from Western countries that were banned in Russia because of the war in Ukraine. EU customs officials have found that Belarusian companies have become key intermediaries in the smuggling of luxury cars to Russia, which could lead to new restrictions on imports.

The Financial Times reports. The new restrictions, aimed at "minimizing the risk of circumvention," include a ban on the export of technology and goods that can be used for military purposes, as well as liquefied natural gas and diamond imports from Belarus.

The EU emphasizes that Belarus is being used to smuggle luxury cars to Russia, circumventing the sanctions. Russian documents show that Rolls-Royce and Maybach cars, which are on the EU's sanctions list against Russia, are illegally entering Moscow through Belarusian companies.

The monthly flow of vehicles and spare parts to Belarus from EU countries increased from $50 million in January 2022 to $268 million in January 2024. Russian documents show that one Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge, manufactured in late 2022, was recorded as arriving in Russia through a Belarusian source.

The car, which is listed at $630,000, was in Russia for nine months after leaving the factory. The same trade data also shows that at least 28 Maybachs, a luxury brand owned by Mercedes-Benz, entered Russia via Belarusian suppliers in 2023. The average price of these cars was $217,000 thousand.

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