Info:
The United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken action against Pobeda Airlines, a low-cost subsidiary of the Aeroflot Group, accusing it of violating US sanctions. Pobeda Airlines, based in Moscow Sheremetyevo, has allegedly been importing US-origin aircraft parts, in contravention of US sanctions.
Pobeda Airlines has also been accused of collaborating with Iran’s Mahan Air.
Mahan Airlines has faced sanctions due to its connections with Iran’s nuclear program and other geopolitical issues.
This designation was based on Mahan Air’s support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and its involvement in transporting terrorists and lethal cargo.
Mahan Air has transported IRGC-QF operatives, weapons, equipment, and funds abroad in support of the terrorist group’s regional operations. It has also moved weapons and personnel for Hizballah.
As a result of these sanctions, Mahan Air’s U.S. assets were frozen and US entities stopped dealing with these airlines.
It is worth noting that Pobeda Airlines had previously faced sanctions from the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in June 2022. These sanctions were imposed for the airline’s continued operation of US aircraft, which was in violation of sanctions imposed in February of that year.
POBEDA is a wholly owned Russian subsidiary of Russian airline Aeroflot. POBEDA operates U.S.- and EU-made aircraft, including those seized by Russia from foreign leasing companies. In March 2023, POBEDA was listed on the Department of Commerce’s BIS Export Violations List and, as a result, is heavily reliant on sanctions evasion and procurement networks to obtain G7-origin aircraft parts. In 2023, POBEDA also imported and carried over $1 million dollars of U.S.-origin, BIS-identified components, including from U.S.-designated entities A T S HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY SPARE PARTS TRADING, CRYNOFIST AVIATION FZCO, ALPHA VISIT SHOP DIS TICARET LIMITED, and POLARSTAR LOGISTICS LLC (POLARSTAR). These entities have all previously supplied Russia-based end-users with controlled aviation components. Additionally, POBEDA has operated as a known consignee for the transportation of aircraft parts from India to Russia as recently as January 2024 through its continued cooperation with U.S.-sanctioned entity, Iran-based Mahan Air. POBEDA’s continued export control violations and support to sanctions evasion networks have aided and abetted Russia’s continued illegal efforts to expropriate Western-origin aircraft and aviation components.
Involved In:
Aviation Industry
Also Known As:
Limited Liability Company Aviakompaniya Pobeda
Country:
Russia