Russia’s sanctions: Oligarch jets continue to fly over EU airspace

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EIn fact, the announcement by the EU Commission President was not a mistake. “Our airspace will be closed to Russian aircraft – and private jets belonging to oligarchs” Ursula van der Leyen said in Brussels on 27 February. Three days ago, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. In addition to the commercial aviation business, the air closure should primarily affect wealthy businessmen who have been loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin for years.

But it only works to a certain extent. Private planes owned by wealthy Russians are still circulating in Europe. In all, WELT AM SONNTAG has been able to identify about 30 suspected Russian planes and helicopters over European airspace since the beginning of EU sanctions.

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Data on these flights are publicly available through flight tracking websites. There is credible evidence that these aircraft are owned or controlled by Russian businessmen. In mid-March, British authorities pulled a Cessna jet south of London G-LATO is not in circulation. The London Transport Ministry says Cesna is Russian oil billionaire Yevgeny Markowitsch Schwidler.

Svitler is considered a friend of Putin’s confidant and former football club owner Roman Abramovich. Before being captured in London, Switzerland’s private jet flew eight more times through the European Union and several times through German airspace. Even his last trip to London Launched March 18 in HamburgNo one there stopped the jet departure.

German officials were surprised on the first day the airspace was closed. At 6:20 pm on February 28, Airbus departed from Munich Airport, according to a list of US sanctions, alleging that the oligarchy was Alisher Usmanov. The jet – like another Usmanov engine from Florence on the same day – flew to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. No one on the German side felt responsible.

At the request, the Federal Aviation Office refers to local air traffic control. The South Bavarian Aviation Authority held the Upper Bavarian government accountable. He explained that only the Federal Ministry of Transport can answer questions related to aircraft. However, the ministry forwarded the request back to the Federal Aviation Office. Today the ministry denies that mistakes were made. Civilian aircraft under Russian control do not appear to have crossed German airspace. Osmanov’s spokesman denied the allegations to the British.Defenders‘Something went wrong.

An EU official agrees: “It is sometimes difficult to enforce sanctions against commercial jets and helicopters registered outside Russia and owned by non-Russian companies because they are being phased out due to opaque ownership structures.” Has been confirmed. To hide the true ownership of the machines, leading companies and marine logs are often used.

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Up to 3 wives, 8 children

One such example is the T7-7AA recorded by the Bombardier aircraft. The aircraft is registered in San Marino and operated by a Swiss company. According to reports It is owned by Russian businessman Albert Autolian. However, the jet was able to fly from Nice to Istanbul on March 2.

Also, a jet registered in Luxembourg, accordingly “ForbesThe Russian-Ukrainian oligarchy, owned by Victor Wexelberg, was able to leave Europe in April. The plane took off from Basel, crossed EU airspace and landed in the Kazakh capital, Noor-Sultan.

Seems completely hassle free Helicopter owned by Russian billionaire Alexander Janatvoro Fly through France. At least eight aircraft of the Airbus helicopter can be demonstrated after the start of the aerial closure.

Researchers, rather than the EU, are taking action against machines with British possible Russian annexation. On April 1, a Gulfstream G550 flight from Dubai was intercepted at London Luton Airport. In the past, Libyan warrior Salifa Hubbard has rented a jet. Even Yevgeny Prikogin, Putin’s confidant and Wagner’s suspected financier, He is said to have used the plane to go to Africa.

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British officials spent four weeks backing up the plane, which was officially owned by a company based in the United Arab Emirates. Only then was the jet allowed to take off again. The ministry told the newspaper that it was not in the public interest to ban flights after the end of the investigation. The plane landed in Rotterdam on Monday.

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