New Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars are being exported to Russia in defiance of trade sanctions, claims Sky News. Imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the sanctions ban the export of cars to the country. However, vehicles can still be exported to countries bordering it, including to Azerbaijan from where, it is suggested, they are being re-exported to Russia. The claim is based on an analysis of HMRC trade data.
While the HMRC and UN trade figures alone do not prove UK luxury cars are being exported from Azerbaijan to Russia, Sky claims its sources have told it that Russians prefer to use Azerbaijan as a route for British cars. Autocar has discovered car brokers in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, are advertising luxury UK cars. One claimed it has partnerships all over the world and could supply new Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars from the EU.