Statement regarding export to Belarus - MV_1560_4154981

Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz V-Class V 300D
Vehicle Identification Number: W1V44781514154981

On 21.09.2022, the above-mentioned vehicle was purchased as a base vehicle in Slovakia from the company XXXX XXXXX XXXXXX.
The vehicle was transported on 22.09.2022 via CMR consignment note from Slovakia to Germany to our company Klassen Automobile GmbH, Minden.

A German company, also engaged in the trade of luxury vehicles, contacted us with the intention of purchasing this base vehicle.
The complete customer data, including contact form, copy of passport, business registration, email address, website, and telephone number, were promptly stored in our system.

On 07.11.2022, the purchase contract for the base vehicle was prepared and duly signed, dated, and stamped by both parties – Klassen Automobile GmbH and the customer company in Germany.
During the contractual arrangements, it was agreed that the delivery address of the vehicle would be in Belarus. The contact person there was named, and a copy of the passport was also documented.

At the same time, a tax consultancy was engaged to properly process the planned triangular transaction. All tax and legal procedures regarding the movement of goods, delivery, tax exemption, and invoicing were coordinated in advance.

On 14.11.2022, the vehicle was declared for export at the competent German customs office, and an export accompanying document (ABD) was issued.

On 17.11.2022, the buyer issued a power of attorney for the collection of the vehicle.
The commissioned transport company confirmed to us in writing that all necessary customs formalities, transport insurance, and proper export across the EU border would be carried out and that all export documents would be correctly submitted to customs.

Upon collection on 17.11.2022:

• a CMR consignment note was issued,
• it was stamped and signed,
• photographs of the vehicle collection were taken.

The delivery note explicitly contained a reference to the tax-free delivery within the framework of a triangular transaction as well as to the delivery to Belarus.

On 22.11.2022, the entry of the vehicle into Belarus was documented.
An import document from the Belarusian customs authorities is available, confirming that the vehicle left the EU border and was duly imported into Belarus.

The CMR stamped at Klassen Automobile on 17.11.2022 additionally bears a stamp from the Grodnzinskaya Tamozhnya (Belarus) dated 24.11.2022, confirming the registration of the vehicle.

On 26.11.2022, we received further import documents as well as the registration confirmation / vehicle registration certificate from Belarus.

Since no exit confirmation from the German customs was initially available, the customs authorities initiated an investigation into the whereabouts of the vehicle.

On 13.03.2023, we submitted to the German customs all import and registration documents from Belarus.

After verification, the German customs confirmed that the vehicle had indeed left the European Union and subsequently provided us with the corresponding exit confirmation.

At Klassen we – in accordance with the agreements made – fully reconditioned this vehicle and transparently provided all information relating to it.
Against this background, the central question arises:

Does a German entrepreneur continue to bear responsibility after a duly executed sales transaction and a customs-confirmed export if the vehicle is later discovered on the territory of the Russian Federation?

On 22.01.2026, we were accused by a court decision that this vehicle had been found in the Russian Federation.