The first agreement concluded by the Russian Association of Motor Insurers (RSA), within the framework of the Blue Card System with the Belarusian Transport Insurance Bureau (BBTS), began to operate in full on September 2, 2023.

On June 30, 2023, the Council of Bureaux suspended the membership of the Belarusian and Russian  Green Card Bureaux from participation in the Green Card System. Due to this suspension, an agreement on the “Blue Card” was concluded between the RSA and the BBTS on June 1, 2023. In accordance with this agreement, after June 30, drivers still have the opportunity to issue policies for trips to the Republic of Belarus, while the policies already issued have continued their validity.

Additionally, agreements with the National Associations of Motor Insurance of Turkey and Azerbaijan were reached, ensuring the validity of “Green Card” contracts signed before July 1, 2023, for the entire time period for which they were granted. With these associations, agreements that are comparable to those with the BBTS are also being negotiated.

The agreement reached between the RSA and the BBTS came into full effect on September 2, 2023. With a few exceptions, it specifies regulations for the “Blue Card,” which are essentially the same as those for the “Green Card” system. Thus, “Green Card” forms are now being issued as proof that the contract was signed, and fresh “Blue Card” forms will be provided starting on January 1, 2024.

Through checking the availability of insurance by state registration in the bureau’s centralized databases, a request for confirmation of insurance can be issued for both an identified and an unidentified policy. The insurance confirmation request will be answered within six weeks, just like before. The vehicle in this case was previously only recognized as insured when sending a request under an identified contract, but unlike the “Green Card” system, any vehicle is recognized as insured in the absence of a response, regardless of which policy the request was sent to, identified or unidentified.

Since settlements were previously made in euros, the primary settlement currency is now the country where the accident occurred.

We find this to be important news since the effects of these decisions and agreements are yet to be determined.