Canadian-Made Luxury Planes Reaching Russia Despite Sanctions
An investigation by CBC News has revealed that members of Russia's business elite are importing Canadian-made luxury planes despite sanctions imposed on the country's aviation sector following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The planes, primarily business jets and commercial aircraft, are being acquired through the secondary market.
Sanction Loopholes and Import Records
Russian import records obtained by CBC News show that at least 34 Canadian-built business jets and commercial aircraft have entered Russia since the sanctions were implemented. These records, along with flight data, aviation industry documents, and leaked border-crossing information, indicate a pattern of circumventing restrictions.
Notably, sanctioned oligarch Igor Kesaev imported a Bombardier business jet in July 2023. Another jet arrived in March 2024 via a company majority-owned by Sergey Shishkarev, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Several other jets were imported by Russian airlines providing charter flights.
Western observers suggest that these aircraft reach Russia through loopholes, often involving shipment through countries friendly to Russia, such as Oman and Kyrgyzstan. Fen Hampson, a professor at Carleton University, describes this as a sophisticated black market model, where parts and entire aircraft are acquired through middlemen in countries not honoring Western sanctions.
Oligarchs and the Aviation Industry
Kesaev, a Russian oligarch, did not provide a statement regarding the press articles. CBC's attempts to reach Shishkarev's Delo Group were unsuccessful. Bombardier declined to comment on specific aircraft sales due to their secondary market nature, stating their compliance with all sanctions.
The investigation revealed that a Bombardier Global Express business jet was imported into Russia by Delo Group, majority-owned by Shishkarev. Flight records show the plane flew from Perth, Australia, to Oman before being registered in Russia and flying to Moscow. Oman has become a hub for ship-to-ship transfers of Russian oil and re-exporting goods to Russia.
Matthew Light, a professor at the University of Toronto, acknowledged that the Russian government has found partners in Western and other countries to evade sanctions.
Kesaev's Jet and a Shadowy Network
The records reviewed by CBC showed that Igor Albertovich Kesaev, a sanctioned oligarch, had a black Bombardier business jet imported in his name. Kesaev is the owner of Mercury Group, which owns Megapolis Group, and previously had ties to the Degtyarev weapons factory. Kesaev was sanctioned by the EU, U.S., and Canada for providing revenue to the Russian government.
Aviation records link Kesaev to the jet years before its import. Documents show that one of the directors of Global Air Services Limited, Christodoulos G. Vassiliades, a Cypriot lawyer sanctioned as an enabler of Russian oligarchs, was linked to Kesaev's Bermuda company, G IV-SP Air Service Ltd. Vassiliades stated he had resigned from all directorships as of April 4, 2023.
The plane was operated by Gamma Aviation and Avcon Jet San Marino before it was imported by Kesaev in July 2023. Avcon Jet San Marino disputed operating the plane after sanctions came into force, stating their services were terminated in February 2022.
Compliance and Industry Response
Christina McCraw, a spokesperson for Bombardier, emphasized the company's compliance with applicable laws and sanctions. De Havilland Canada stated that its aircraft on the Russian import list were sold on the secondary market and were in Russia before the war. Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs for De Havilland Canada, said they have not sold parts or aircraft to Russia since sanctions were introduced.
The U.S. Department of Justice has also taken action, arresting individuals for allegedly operating schemes to illegally export aircraft parts and components to Russia.
