A new blow to currency freedom from Europe.
The European Court has definitively confirmed: taking cash euros to Russia is prohibited — even for medical treatment. Since 2022, the EU has restricted the import of euro banknotes into the Russian Federation, but now it is clear that there will be no exceptions, not even for healthcare purposes.
What happened:
- At Frankfurt Airport, nearly €15,000 was confiscated from a passenger flying to Russia.
- The woman was carrying the money for hormone therapy, dental treatment, and recovery after breast surgery.
- Customs allowed her to keep only €1,000 for travel and accommodation.
- A German court requested clarification from the European court, which clearly ruled: medical treatment is not a valid reason for transporting euros.
What this means for you:
- The EU continues to tighten restrictions on any cash flows to Russia.
- Even if you’re traveling to Russia for a good reason, carrying a large amount of euros is officially prohibited.
- The alternative is using non-cash transfer methods or other currencies.
Using cryptocurrency to store and transfer funds in such situations becomes an excellent alternative under current restrictions.
