Estonia to introduce full customs control on Russian border from August 8

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that full customs control will be introduced on the border with Russia for all people and goods crossing it from August 8, ERR reports .

Michal stressed that Estonia must take all measures to prevent the transportation of goods subject to sanctions and to strengthen the country's security. He noted that attempts to circumvent sanctions and move prohibited goods across the border continue, as does the war that Russia has started against Ukraine. Introducing full control, he said, would make it more difficult to circumvent sanctions and supply the Russian military machine.

Michal also reported that local authorities, freight carriers and bus companies have been notified of the upcoming changes. For those crossing the border on foot, this means a search of each person and their luggage.

The government stressed that full customs control instead of selective control would increase the time it takes to cross the border, which would likely lead to a reduction in the number of people crossing it. The decision to tighten customs control was made after a government meeting on July 4.

In May, it became known that at the Russian-Estonian border at the Russian checkpoint "Shumilkino" border guards were holding overnight buses with people for 10-12 hours. As one of the passengers told The Insider, on the Russian side the barrier for the Ecolines bus was not opened for three hours without explanation, and when they let it through, about a third of the passengers were interrogated for a long time by FSB officers.