Japanese biker pays $1300 in Belarus for road accident in Russia

A motorbiker from Japan has paid BYN2600 ($1300) in Belarus for the road accident he created in Russia's Krasnoyarski Krai, because he violated the temporary importation rules for his motorbike within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Mogilevskiye vedomosti reports that the biker crossed the Belarusian border on his Japan-registered BMW motorcycle at the crossing point in Brest in August 2015. Later, the customs officials in Mahilou "found no evidence that the motorbike was re-exported from the territory of Eurasian Economic Union." Therefore, they requested the Japanese man to either clear the motorcyle from the customs duties or pay the duty.

The man said the motorbike had remained in Russia where it was involved in a road accident. The biker admitted his guilt stating he had not intention to violate the rules and paid the duty.

Under the EAEU rules, foreigners are allowed to import their vehicles temporarily without paying customs duties. However, they must be re-exported from EAEU after a certain period of time. If re-exportation is not possible for some reasons, a customs duty must be paid. In the past 6 months of 2016, foreigners have added BYN300 000 ($150 000) in customs duties to the budget of Belarus.