This is a great website and forum - I've read every thread in all 5 pages of this section and would like to post a new topic to share my travel plans.
I am currently doing the research and planning for a personal project to buy a Lada 4x4 or UAZ Hunter (still trying to decide between the two and in either case preferably up to 5 years old max) and to drive it through all the former Soviet Republics. As I have a full time job, I would be doing this in 3-4 phases, and am currently researching where to make this purchase. The main factor is to be able to purchase and register the vehicle as a foreigner on a tourist visa, and to be able to take it out of the country for an extended period of time. I will likely be looking to sell the vehicle in the country of origin, or in Kyrgyzstan (based on the favourable reports I have read on this forum) at the end of the trip. The other consideration as you can imagine is long term parking in the final destination of each phase, security and the time limits with regards to temporary import of a foreign-registered vehicle into that country.
Draft plan for Phase I as follows:
Tbilisi GE -> Gyumri AM -> Batumi GE -> Istanbul TR -> Varna BG -> Brasov RO -> Chisinau MD -> Odessa UA -> Kiev UA -> Gomel BY -> Minsk BY -> Vilnius LT -> Riga LV -> Tallinn EE
(According to Google Maps, total driving distance is approx. 5650 km with a total driving time of approx. 77 hrs over 3 weeks or 21 days = 269 km/day or 3.67 hrs of driving/day)
Based on research thus far, Kyrgyzstan seems to be a feasible option to purchase and register the vehicle. I am also looking at Kazakhstan (given the popularity of both the Lada 4x4 and UAZ Hunter there) and also Georgia, where apparently it is very easy to register a vehicle as a foreigner. I travelled recently to Armenia, and the number of mod-ed up Ladas in that country was awe-inspiring, although I have no idea whether it would be possible to register a car there without a residential address. See below photo of a Lada spotted in Armenia that I would totally buy for use on this trip.
Given the wealth of experience on this Board, I welcome your comments and suggestions. This will likely take off in Spring/Summer 2019.
Cheers!
UAZ_Bryan
PS Also feel free to tell me I'm nutters with this project.
