Finland preparing to ban entry for vehicles with Russian license plates

HELSINKI. Sept 15 (Interfax) - Finland will stop admitting vehicles with Russian license plates, the Yle Finnish television and radio company said on Friday, citing informed sources.

"Vehicles with Russian licenses plates and [those] intended for fewer than ten passengers will no longer be able to cross the border. However, there will be certain exemptions to the entry ban. They will be announced later," it said.

It is not yet known for certain when the ban will enter into force.

Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen is expected to provide further details later on Friday.

"Finland intends to abide by the EU's common policy as regards Russian cars' entry [to the country]," it said.

The Finnish Foreign Ministry said earlier that Finland was still admitting vehicles registered in Russia. However, the head of the ministry's sanctions department, Pia Sarivaara, told Yle that Finland will discuss this issue with other EU countries bordering Russia.

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have already banned entry for vehicles with Russian license plates.