Russia Has Decided To Legalize Car Theft
- 28.10.2026, 14:48
But only from “unfriendly” countries.
The Russian State Duma’s Committee on Transport has recommended passing, in the first reading, a bill drafted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs that would allow for the registration of vehicles wanted by Interpol if they are being sought at the initiative of police from “unfriendly” countries, reports "Kommersant".
Speaking before the committee, Russian Deputy Interior Minister Igor Zubov emphasized that the proposed changes are partly driven by the war in Ukraine. According to the deputy minister, his colleagues in the occupied territories often face problems when registering “former Ukrainian vehicles.” “The enemy had them listed as wanted through Interpol, and subsequently, in good faith compliance with the law, we were unable to register them,” Zubov stated.
The deputy interior minister also presented the draft as a temporary measure designed to ensure that the vehicles “don’t gather dust and sit idle.” Responding to questions from lawmakers, Zubov assured them that the changes in legislation do not mean the blanket, unconditional registration of vehicles wanted by Interpol. According to the police chief, those initiating a search for a specific vehicle can “write to Russia, come here, or send documents” to prove the validity of their claims.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs drafted the document back in February, and in June the government submitted it to the lower house of parliament. In October, the Supreme Court effectively endorsed the initiative. In the dispute between St. Petersburg resident Danila Kosachev, who purchased a car stolen in Canada, and the traffic police, who refused to register the vehicle, the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court ruled in Kosachev’s favor. The court characterized this decision as protecting “bona fide buyers of foreign cars from the actions of unfriendly countries.”
After the start of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of Western sanctions, Russia became one of the largest markets for stolen cars from Europe and North America. From February 2024 to July 2026, Interpol recorded 4,798 reports of vehicles stolen from Canada alone that were subsequently operated in the Russian Federation. In addition, thousands of stolen foreign-made cars entered the Russian market via the UAE as part of parallel imports.