Overview
- Russia’s Interior Ministry has published a draft allowing registration of vehicles listed as stolen if they originate from countries it labels “unfriendly,” including EU members such as Germany.
- The proposal remains under parliamentary review and is not in force, requiring approval by both chambers and a presidential signature.
- The ministry argues many purchasers are unaware of international theft notices and cites 123 German-related inquiries without response as of January 19, 2026.
- European law-enforcement figures warn the change would legitimize markets for stolen cars, with German police union official Benjamin Jendro calling it a “fatal sign.”
- The initiative follows sanctions-era shifts in Russia’s auto market and heavy reliance on parallel imports, estimated at about 180,200 vehicles in 2025, as investigators track long-standing cross-border theft networks.