MOSCOW — Russia is considering a controversial proposal that would allow the legal registration of vehicles stolen in the European Union and brought into the country, a move that has raised concerns among European officials, particularly in Germany.
Lawmakers have been discussing draft legislation prepared by the Russian Interior Ministry since early February, reportedly at the direction of President Vladimir Putin.
The proposed law aims to protect the interests of car owners whose vehicles have been “listed as wanted on the initiative of hostile states,” a category that includes not only EU member states but also countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. It would also legalize vehicles declared missing by Ukraine, including those taken from occupied territories.
Currently, Russia prohibits the registration of vehicles subject to international search warrants. However, authorities argue it is often difficult to determine why a car is listed in such databases, especially as communication with countries deemed “hostile” has broken down since the war in Ukraine. Moscow claims that requests for information—particularly from Germany—have gone unanswered, citing 123 German-registered vehicles located in Russia as of January 2026 without clarification from Berlin.
Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office confirmed there is currently no exchange of information with Russia on such cases, noting that many involve civil ownership disputes beyond its jurisdiction. Still, critics warn the proposed law could undermine international efforts to combat car theft. A spokesperson for Berlin’s police union described the measure as a “disastrous sign” that could embolden organized crime and weaken cross-border enforcement.
Experts have also raised concerns about potential insurance fraud schemes. Some Russian analysts suggest the law could enable staged thefts, where vehicles are sold or transported to Russia, reported stolen abroad, and later legalized domestically. However, Germany’s insurance industry downplayed the risk, saying such schemes are not widespread and are unlikely to significantly increase theft rates.
The proposal comes amid strained relations between Russia and Western countries, with limited cooperation on law enforcement matters, further complicating efforts to track and recover stolen vehicles across borders.
