Russia has asked the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ease sanctions imposed over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing documents and sources.
According to a working paper submitted by Moscow, the restrictions on spare parts and overflights allegedly “violate the human right to freedom of movement regardless of nationality and citizenship.”
The paper also attacked the closure of airspace by 37 countries, the suspension of airworthiness certificates, and bans on technical servicing. Russia called on ICAO to take “all practical measures to prevent states from applying politically motivated, discriminatory and coercive measures.”
Russia is also lobbying ICAO’s triennial assembly for relief and attempting to win back a seat on the body’s 36-member governing council after losing a 2022 vote in the wake of its aggression against Ukraine.
Moscow’s request discloses its urgent effort to secure access to critical spare parts for its predominantly Western-made civilian fleet. More than 700 Boeing and Airbus aircraft operated by Russian airlines have remained cut off from maintenance, insurance, and technical servicing since 2022, forcing the Kremlin to rely on gray-market imports.
The lobbying push comes as the US partially eased sanctions on Belarus’ state airline Belavia in exchange for the release of 52 political prisoners. However, Washington restricted Belavia’s US-made Boeing jets from flying to Russia, occupied Ukrainian territories, or sanctioned states, fearing parts could be funneled to Moscow through Minsk.
