US moves to ground Roman Abramovich plane and 99 others over Russia export violations
- The list includes 99 Boeing planes operated by Russian carriers as well as a Gulfstream G650 belonging to sanctioned Russian businessman Abramovich
- The US Commerce Department said in a statement the action means ‘international flights from Russia on these aircraft are effectively grounded’
The US Commerce Department will on Friday move to effectively ground 100 aeroplanes that have recently flown to Russia and are believed to violate US export controls, including a plane used by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, officials said.
The list, seen by Reuters, includes 99 Boeing aeroplanes operated by Russian passenger and cargo carriers including Aeroflot, AirBridge Cargo, Utair, Nordwind, Azur Air and Aviastar-TU – as well as Abramovich’s Gulfstream G650 – and could further hinder Russian efforts to continue some international flights.
The US Commerce Department will warn companies and other entities around the world that any refuelling, maintenance, repair, or spare parts or services violate US export controls and subject companies to US enforcement actions that could include “substantial jail time, fines, loss of export privileges, or other restrictions”, the department said.
The department said in a statement the action means “international flights from Russia on these aircraft are effectively grounded”.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimando said in a statement that the department is “publishing this list to put the world on notice – we will not allow Russian and Belarusian companies and oligarchs to travel with impunity in violation of our laws”.
The United States, Canada and much of Europe have barred Russian planes from flying over their airspace, which has forced the cancellation of much of Russia’s international flights.