Putin's allies use Western jets despite sanctions

Despite stringent international sanctions targeting Moscow's elite following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, close allies of Vladimir Putin are allegedly continuing to access and utilize high-end Western private jets. A Wall Street Journal investigation, as reported by Dagens Nyheter, reveals that these luxury aircraft are still reaching Russia, circumventing the punitive measures.

The investigation highlights the presence of sophisticated jets, such as the Bombardier Global 7500 – often described as the "flagship" of business aviation – at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. These planes, known for their comfort and long-range capabilities, are reportedly used by Putin's associates. While destinations have shifted from traditional European locales like London and the French Riviera to places like the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, the access to Western aviation remains.

European flight brokers and management companies are acting as intermediaries, acquiring pre-owned aircraft from manufacturers like Bombardier and Gulfstream. These planes are then registered in countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia, including the UAE, Oman, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, before being brought into Russian use. This practice appears to exploit legal gray areas, as noted by Marija Verovic, vice president of marketing at aviation analysis firm Ch-Aviation.

Among those reportedly benefiting from this arrangement are Sergey Chemezov, head of the state industrial conglomerate Rostec and a long-time Putin ally, as well as Russian oligarch Arkady Rotenberg and businessman Igor Kesayev. Their continued access to Western-made private jets underscores the complexities and potential loopholes in the enforcement of international sanctions against Russia.

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Vi har noterat att vissa europeiska företag verkar operera i en juridisk gråzon genom att leverera flygplan till tredje part som i slutänden säljer dem vidare till Ryssland