World · Europe · 8 hrs ago
Russia’s Supreme Court allows registration of car sought by Canada
Russia’s Supreme Court ordered the Interior Ministry to allow a car to be registered and driven even though it is listed in an international stolen-vehicle search.
The case involved St Petersburg resident Danila Kosachev and a Dodge Ram 1500 he bought in Bishkek in December 2023.
Canada had flagged the vehicle as stolen, but Russian investigators received no reply when they asked Canada for evidence and details about its legal owner.
A Russian examination found no signs that the vehicle’s identification number had been altered.
The court said the ban on registration must be lifted to protect Russian owners of vehicles sought by countries it described as unfriendly.
It did not order the car removed from the international wanted database, as lower courts had done.
Russia’s Interior Ministry had argued that only Canada could end the listing, or that it would expire in June 2028.
Russia’s Supreme Court ordered the Interior Ministry to lift the registration ban on a Dodge Ram 1500 sought by Canada and allow it to be used.
The court said it was necessary to protect the rights of Russian citizens who own vehicles sought by countries it described as unfriendly.
The vehicle was bought by St Petersburg resident Danila Kosachev in Bishkek in December 2023.
Canadian authorities listed it as wanted in February 2024 over an alleged theft, but did not respond to Russian police requests for confirmation.
The Supreme Court did not order the vehicle removed from the international wanted database.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of Russia ruled in a case brought by St Petersburg resident Danila Kosachev.
- What
- It ordered the Interior Ministry to lift the ban on registering the Dodge Ram 1500 and allow it to be used. It did not order the car removed from the international wanted database.
- When
- The court issued its decision on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- Russia; Kosachev bought the vehicle in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- Why
- The court cited the need to protect the rights of Russian citizens who own vehicles sought by countries it described as unfriendly.
Danila Kosachev
Russian Interior Ministry
Registration ban
Danila Kosachev
Kosachev sought to have the ban lifted and the car removed from Russian wanted-vehicle records.
Russian Interior Ministry
The ministry argued that only the country that initiated the international alert could remove the car from the wanted list, or the information-retention period had to expire.
Evidence and registration
Danila Kosachev
Lower courts ruled for Kosachev, finding the theft information insufficiently supported, and the Supreme Court ordered the registration ban lifted.
Russian Interior Ministry
The ministry appealed against the lower-court decisions, maintaining that the alert could not be removed through Russian authorities.
The vehicle was allegedly stolen, according to the reported circumstances of the case.
Kosachev bought the Dodge Ram 1500 in Bishkek.
Canada placed the vehicle on the international wanted list over the alleged theft.
The Supreme Court ordered the registration ban lifted and allowed the car to be used.
- Vehicle
- Dodge Ram 1500
- Buyer
- Danila Kosachev, a resident of St Petersburg
- Purchase
- Bishkek, December 2023
- International alert
- Initiated by Canada in February 2024
- Russian registration ban
- Lifted by the Supreme Court
- Database status
- The ruling did not order the car removed from the international wanted database