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Geopolitics · Private Jets · Russian Oligarchs · Sanctions Evasion
Russian oligarchs and Putin's allies continue to utilize Western-built private jets, circumventing international sanctions by acquiring aircraft through complex networks and re-registering them in new locations, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The WSJ, citing import data and Flightradar24 records, revealed that individuals like Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov and oligarch Arkady Rotenberg have adapted their travel, shifting from European luxury destinations to the UAE, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. Chemezov reportedly used a Western-manufactured jet for approximately half a dozen flights to the UAE between October and January.
Rotenberg, who gained access to planes in 2022, frequently flies to the UAE and Azerbaijan. This evasion involves purchasing jets via networks of firms or the secondhand market, then registering them in new jurisdictions to avoid detection.
The EU’s anti-fraud body also reported Polish authorities uncovered a separate scheme illegally sending hundreds of vehicles from Europe to Russia despite sanctions. These incidents highlight persistent challenges in enforcing international sanctions against Russia's elite following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
