Russia’s New Law on Stolen Vehicles from EU
Russia is considering a proposal that would enable the legal registration of cars stolen in European Union countries within its borders. This move has raised alarms in Germany, where a police union warns it could exacerbate car theft rates across the region.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Russian Interior Ministry, has been under discussion by lawmakers since early February. A draft bill, reportedly directed by President Vladimir Putin, aims to allow vehicles seized in “hostile states” to be officially recorded in Russia. These states include the 27 EU members, along with Switzerland, Norway, the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
Russia currently blocks the registration of vehicles listed under international search warrants. However, the ministry claims it often struggles to identify the reasons behind such listings. Since the war in Ukraine began, authorities in these countries have not responded to Moscow’s requests for information, according to the Interior Ministry.
“The BKA is aware of inquiries from Russian authorities regarding vehicles listed by Germany. However, since these primarily concern civil law issues (ownership and the owner’s interest in repatriation), the BKA has no jurisdiction,”
stated the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in response to DW’s query.
Germany’s police union GdP, represented by Benjamin Jendro, noted a lack of formal communication with Russia on this matter. “There has certainly been cases where Russian authorities recovered sought vehicles,” he said. Yet, Jendro emphasized that German officials are unlikely to travel to Russia for vehicle retrieval, as insurance claims often conclude before the cars are found.
“We have had stable vehicle theft figures for years — at a very high level. Such a law would further undermine the security authorities’ fight against international car-trafficking gangs,”
warned Jendro, calling the draft legislation a “disastrous sign” that “encouraged crime.”
The ministry highlighted that 123 German cars listed as wanted internationally were located in Russia in January 2026. However, Berlin has not provided Moscow with details on why these vehicles were flagged. Meanwhile, the BKA reported 30,373 cars stolen in Germany in 2024, with only 8,858 cases resolved.
Russian experts also weighed in, noting potential benefits of the law. Alexander Kholodov of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (OPRF) suggested the amendment could facilitate… (content cut off)
While the exact impact remains debated, the law’s passage could reshape the dynamics of cross-border vehicle theft, creating new challenges for European nations.
