Russia considers allowing registration of cars on international wanted list

Russia is considering a new legal framework that would permit the registration of vehicles that are currently subjects of international wanted notices. The government has submitted a draft law to the State Duma, which would empower the Ministry of Internal Affairs to establish specific procedures for registering automobiles on Interpol's wanted list.

This proposed change is intended to safeguard the legal interests of individuals who possess vehicles that have been flagged by "unfriendly countries." Under the current regulations, any vehicle imported into Russia that is later discovered to be on an international wanted list cannot be registered. This has led to complications for owners, as obtaining information about why a car is flagged is often difficult due to infrequent responses from other nations to requests from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The bill, developed as per the president's directive, aims to address situations where owners of these vehicles have sought court permission for registration. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Russian law enforcement agencies have identified around 1,500 vehicles on wanted lists initiated by foreign countries since 2022. The legislation seeks to provide a clear mechanism for these cases, which have previously relied on judicial intervention.