Russia wants to legalize cars stolen in EU

Russia seeks to legally register EU-stolen vehicles

Russia is preparing to allow the formal registration of cars seized in European Union nations. This development has raised concerns among German law enforcement representatives, who worry it might heighten the rate of vehicle thefts across the continent.

The proposed legislation, drafted by the Russian Interior Ministry, aims to ease the registration process for vehicles confiscated in the EU and transported to Russia. Since early February, lawmakers have debated this change, which could have significant implications for inter-state cooperation in criminal matters.

“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).

Kommersant, a Moscow-based publication, cited the Interior Ministry’s directive from President Vladimir Putin as the basis for the draft bill. The initiative targets vehicles “listed as wanted by hostile states,” with Russia listing several nations including the EU, Switzerland, Norway, the U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

Under current rules, vehicles flagged by international warrants cannot be legally registered in Russia. However, the ministry argues that Russian authorities often struggle to determine the reason behind such listings. Since the conflict with Ukraine began, “hostile states” have allegedly failed to respond to Moscow’s requests for information on seized vehicles.

Germany, highlighted as a key example, has not shared details with Russia about why certain cars are marked as wanted. According to Kommersant, the Interior Ministry noted that 123 German vehicles listed as subject to international search warrants were found in Russia in January 2026. Yet, Berlin provided no explanation for these designations.

Benjamin Jendro, a spokesperson for the German police union GdP, emphasized the lack of formal communication between Russia and German authorities. “There is no intensive official exchange on many levels,” he said. “Past instances show Russian officials have retrieved vehicles sought by Germany, but with current tensions, German officials are unlikely to travel to Russia to recover stolen cars.”

Impact on crime and international cooperation

Jendro called the new law a “disastrous sign” that could incentivize criminal activity. “We’ve seen stable theft figures for years — at a high level. This law would weaken security agencies’ efforts against international car smuggling gangs,” he warned. He also pointed to how cars are often stolen, dismantled, and sent to Eastern Europe before being reintroduced into the market.

Russian experts offer a different perspective. Alexander Kholodov, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, suggested the amendment might streamline procedures for recovering stolen property. “This could facilitate the return of vehicles to their rightful owners,” he noted, though the full implications remain under discussion.