Lavrov Throws Tantrum Over Ban On Russian Cars Entering EU

The head of the Russian foreign Minister got nervous because of the "special treatment" of Russians.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the EU countries of "Nazism" because of the ban on the entry of cars with Russian licence plates. He said this during a meeting of the Valdai international discussion club, RIA "Novosti" reports.

"I was struck by the speed with which the outward decency of Europeans, of all of them practically, with which they have been covering themselves with for the last years, retaining some remnants of not only diplomacy, but also elementary ethics, has come off. In general, this is a manifestation of what is commonly called "Nazism". In relation to Russians only," Lavrov told reporters after the meeting.

On September 8, the European Commission published a clarification to the sanctions, which in fact prohibited the entry of cars with Russian licence plates into the EU countries. Restrictions have already been imposed by Finland, Germany, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. Bulgaria also joined the ban on October 2, while Norway introduces similar measures from October 3.

The only route to enter the EU remains a road totalling about 2,000 kilometres. Drivers need to cross the Upper Lars checkpoint at the border with Georgia, then drive 490 kilometres across Georgia to the Sarpi checkpoint at the border with Turkey, then cross the entire north of Turkey to the border with Greece (about 1,500 kilometres) and cross at the Ipsala-Kipi checkpoint. From Greece, Russians can go to other EU countries that have not imposed a ban on cars with Russian licence plates.

At the same time "Fontanka" reported that the Greek authorities in a number of cases deny Russian citizens entry because of Russian licence plates. They have not yet officially announced the ban.