Belarus Loses To Russia In ‘Kaliningrad Transit’ Case

The Court of the Eurasian Economic Union accused the Belarusian side of violation of the international trade regulations.

The Court of the Eurasian Economic Union found Russia righteous in the case on confiscation of the heavy-duty fuhres with the television equipment, which went through Belarus from Kaliningrad to Moscow and were partially detained by the Belarusian side, several years ago in Belarus, tut.by writes.

The Major EAEU Court Board started consideration of this case in autumn 2016.

“The Major Court Board resolved to partially satisfiy the claim of the Russian Federation, to establish the fact of non-fulfillment by the Republic of Belarus the regulations of Articles 1, 3, 4, 25 of the Agreement on the Eurasian Economic Union dated May 29, 2014 on ensuring the freedom of movement of goods,” — stated in the resolution of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The document also refers to the non-compliance by Belarus the obligations regarding fulfillment of the regulations of the Agreement related to the functioning of the Customs Union without exceptions and restrictions after the end of the transitional period, striving to create a single market for goods, services, capital and labor within the framework of the Customs Union, the implementation of unified customs regulations, Article 125 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union, articles 11 and 17 of the Agreement on mutual administrative assistance of customs authorities of the member states of the Customs Union dated May 21, 2010.

At the same time, as stated in the court’s decision, many judges expressed their dissenting opinions while pronouncing the decision, but the EAEU Court does not reveal them.

Important to note, in Belarus, in late 2014, over 20 heavy-duty fuhres with the television equipment, which went through Belarus from Kaliningrad region to Moscow, were partially detained. Later on, some equipment was returned to the Russian Federation. Back then, the representatives of the Belarusian State Customs Committee noted that the TV-sets were not actually produced in Kaliningrad region, but only assembled of the ready-made units, which means, they conduct the SKD assembly which allows legalizing the products, imported from China.

Later on, the Hrodna regional court confirmed the legality of confiscation of the equipment. The seized TV-sets were sold in the Belarusian stores.

In turn, the Kaliningrad authorities stated that they checked information about the detained cargos and confirmed the legality and legitimacy of their production in the Kaliningrad region.

The losses of Kaliningrad businessmen amounted to about 200 million Russian rubles. Entrepreneurs did not conceal their indignation and called Belarus "a pirate state, the European Somalia".

Back then, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev promised the residents of Kaliningrad to deal with the situation. "We'll deal with that. Make no mistake: at the political level and at the level of the performers, "— Medvedev stated.