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Home  >  Editorial • Russia • Turkey  >  The Nefarious Plan By Russian Airlines To Skirt Sanctions By Relocating To Turkey
EditorialRussiaTurkey

The Nefarious Plan By Russian Airlines To Skirt Sanctions By Relocating To Turkey

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 9, 2022June 10, 2022 46 Comments

Some Russian airlines are weighing relocation to Turkey as a way to lease new aircraft and access repair facilities while avoiding the crippling western sanctions that followed Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. This nefarious plan should merit international scorn.

Russian Airlines Hatch Nefarious Plan To Dodge Sanctions By Relocating to Friendly Nations Like Turkey

The game works like this: carriers like Nordwind Airlines or Azur Air are Russian-based carriers, but their parent companies are controlled by Turkish investors. Unlike state-owned carriers like Aeroflot or Rossiya, these parent companies are currently exempt from Russian sanctions. By creating new subsidiaries or wholly new airlines in Turkey, new planes could be leased, spare parts accessed, and maintenance performed in accordance with international record-keeping standards.

These planes could then be used to transport Russians not only between Turkey and the Russian Federation, but on domestic flights within Russia and to other friendly nations, where the risk of aircraft seizure would be limited. Currently, Russian carriers have had to severely restrict air travel even to friendly nations for fear of aircraft repossession.

But wait, isn’t this just a thin façade that the West should see right through? Of course. But throwing Turkey, a NATO member into the mix complicates matters. Embargoes and sanctions are not nearly as effective when a hole the size of Turkey tacitly allows Russian companies to evade punishment.

Don’t expect Turkey to get in the way. As authoritarian Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosts Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro today, the relationship between Turkey and Russia remains close. Turkey, whose tourist economy is heavily reliant upon Russian visitors, has used the War in Ukraine to increase flights to Russia and roll out the red carpet to Russian tourists who find themselves personae non gratae elsewhere.

Erdogan has threatened to derail the ascension of Finland and Sweden into NATO, citing their support for Kurdish separatists Turkey calls terrorists but most of the world calls freedom fighters (YPG). Meanwhile, Turkey continues to occupy the northern half of Cyprus and has become increasingly aggressive in cross-border incursions into Syria.

How does this all play in? Turkey will be a safe haven for Russian companies to dodge western sanctions; a gray area in which Turkish “ownership” of companies that are based in Russia and whose primary business is in Russia currently provides exemption from sanctions.

Bloomberg broke the story and there is no comment right now from the carriers involved. Hopefully as more information emerges, western powers will use their influence to cut-off a clear ploy to dodge sanctions.

Armenia is also being considered as a base for Russian carriers to re-organize in a way they hope would evade sanctions.

CONCLUSION

My editorial slant shines more clearly in this story than in most…I don’t deny it. But even the consideration of creating new airlines to evade sanctions really strikes me as an insult by Turkey toward Ukraine, which is facing an uphill battle to secure its homeland from an illegal, illogical, irrational, and impracticable war waged by a delusional little man from Russia called Vladimir Putin.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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46 Comments

  1. Glenn Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 8:27 am

    Great article Matthew. With friends like Ergodan, who needs enemies?

  2. Joe Chivas Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 8:52 am

    Not a lot of love today for the Russian, Turkish, and Venezuelan strongmen.

  3. Dave Edwards Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 8:55 am

    Very strong wording Matt. Will never understand the fake outrage by some Americans toward Putin. I personally blame all this on the Comedian running Ukraine for not negotiating a settlement and saving his people from all the pain.

    I personally would give CA, OR and WA to China or Russia if it would prevent WW3 if it came to that. Better Red than Dead is my motto. Hell, most of the residents of those 3 states are already socialists like their hero Bernie, so what’s a slight step further left?

    • Joe Biden Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 9:00 am

      I know why you’re here. But why am I here?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 9:28 am

      @Dave, I really don’t get you. I thought you were a red-blooded American who would be more Patrick Henry like (“give me liberty or give me death”) in defending liberty. I know some on the right view Putin as a savior of white/Christian values, but I’m not sure how anyone can support a man who locks who up dissidents and wages wars of aggression over pride (or maybe due to his Parkinsons and cancer messing with his brain).

      • Aaron Reply
        June 9, 2022 at 10:32 am

        Some trolls just can’t help themselves when it comes to trolling…

      • Dave Edwards Reply
        June 9, 2022 at 1:18 pm

        Parts of America, and some Americans left the America I know and love. Not the other way around. I’m sure if you look around I’m far from alone in that belief. I’m not fan of communism or Putin but it’s not worth starting WW3 over, or sending money we don’t have to Ukraine.

        If he keeps going and attacks our allies then it’s a different story, but then it will be all over for all of us. It’s the same reason we accept human rights violations in China, the risk to reward is too high. Big difference between “supporting” him as you claimed and knowing when to mind your own business.

        • josh Reply
          June 15, 2022 at 11:07 am

          Well said and i believe correctly said.
          The ukraine oligarchy are all in switzerland, monaco and cannes living it up while the 90% are getting killed everyday in a senseless war.
          meanwhile the usa and europe middle class is getting destroyed by inflation.
          USA and europe need to push ukraine to a settlement. sometimes a bad deal is better than no deal

      • 747always Reply
        June 9, 2022 at 11:19 pm

        Dave is a Trumpist troll. Sadly you don’t even delete his disgusting racist tirade where he called someone a dot head.

        • josh Reply
          June 15, 2022 at 11:08 am

          Yes. freedom of speech should be abolished and the bolsheviks should decide whose voice is heard.
          great idea for middle america

    • AlohaDaveKennedy Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 10:59 am

      Trying to foist CA, OR, or WA on any country would be equivalent to exporting toxic waste and a crime against humanity. Russia once had part of California at one time but dumped it faster than you can say Chesa Boudin.

      • Aaron Reply
        June 9, 2022 at 12:03 pm

        2 names, same Dave…

        • Dave Edwards Reply
          June 9, 2022 at 1:21 pm

          I believe with some simple research Matt can prove you wrong Aaron with a simple IP match. I don’t use a VPN and he can easily see where I’m posting from.

          But it does seem this Aloha guy has some common sense, I like him.

          • SeattleGuy
            June 15, 2022 at 10:59 am

            You and AlohaDave have the same shortcoming. You listen to propaganda and can’t discern you’re being played. As Asimov wrote about when Fox News started to confuse the masses with disinformation.

            https://www.openculture.com/2016/10/isaac-asimov-laments-the-cult-of-ignorance-in-the-united-states.html

    • Greg Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 3:58 pm

      That’s rich, you blame Zelensky for not rewarding a Russian invasion with the concession of around 20% of Ukraine. I think he understands Putler better than you. If he conceded part of the country to Russia, the dictator would see it as weakness and be back for Odessa next as a bridge to then annex Moldova.

    • carletonm Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 11:55 pm

      As a resident of Washington state, I would prefer Canada, thank you.

      And why should Zelenskyy “negotiate a settlement”? His sovereign country was invaded. If Mexico invaded Texas and took over the southern part, would you want to negotiate a settlement, or just kick them out? I think I know your answer.

      • Jerry Reply
        June 10, 2022 at 1:41 pm

        South Texas, and especially the Rio Grande Valley, pretty reliably votes Democrat, so @Dave might actually be OK with ceding that land back to Mexico.

        • MMartin Reply
          June 15, 2022 at 9:30 am

          Look again Jerry.. RGV is starting to vote Republican. The City of McAllen has a Republican mayor.

      • SeattleGuy Reply
        June 15, 2022 at 11:02 am

        No one is stopping you from moving to Canada, are they?

    • PolishKnight Reply
      June 10, 2022 at 2:19 pm

      I don’t want to get into a war argument here, so I’ll just address the surface of the points you made.

      Yes, Zelensky was a former comedian but I rather think that works in his favor. Comedy is a philosophical tradition going back to the ancient Greeks and requires insight about life and people. After all, Ronald Reagan was an actor and Donald Trump a reality TV show host. Whatever one thinks of these people, I think their entertainment careers was excellent for their entry into politics.

      For the record, Zelensky campaigned on, and attempted a negotiation with Putin to end the 2014 Donbas conflict but Putin wanted to ensure it would go his way while Zelensky wanted a referendum in 15 years time to give things a chance to settle down. He was even unpopular by Ukrainians prior to the recent conflict as being “pro-Russia” for his peace overtures. Just putting it out there so people know what’s going on.

      Russia in the past decade, but even after the cold war, had been developing a philosophy similar to “Manifest Destiny” or “little Russia” to regard Ukraine as merely a suburb of Russia and to eliminate it as a nation and establish a feudal order similar to Belarus. Ukraine, despite all the conflict, for the past 20 years has been modernizing and maturing into a European state.

      Ukrainians disagree with me, but I think that surrendering the Donbas section in 2014 would have avoided this as well as released, like you said, an electorate opposed to the majority creating discord but keep in mind, it is their nation and they shouldn’t be viewed as a villain anymore than someone whose stabbed by a mugger for not handing over his wallet. Keep in mind that Russia up to the last minute claimed they had no intentions to openly invade and had abandoned (sincere) negotiations for at least a year thinking it would be an easy win to absorb and then dominate Ukraine and her people.

      Regarding “negotiated settlements” the GOP has been dominated by so-called “RINOs” for decades who play ball with the left and allow the left to walk all over them.

      About Turkey and Aeroflot: My father-in-law enjoyed his Aeroflot flight years ago and I am sad to see all this happen. I simply don’t have any other emotion about it.

  4. PM Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 9:00 am

    Really good post, but I just cannot help myself. It’s personae non gratae!

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 9:25 am

      You mean because I should use the plural version?

    • PM Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 9:35 am

      Indeed!

  5. gwayrav Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 9:08 am

    “Nefarious” lol, says the Aryan American!

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 9:30 am

      Clever, clever.

  6. Nathan Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 9:34 am

    It is misleading to state that “most of the world” refers to groups like the PKK as “freedom fighters.” In fact, they are designated as a terrorist organization by the EU, the US, and a range of other countries in addition to Turkey. Co-mingling terrorist Turkey-based Kurdish groups under the banner of “freedom fighters” does a great disservice to Kurds with semi-autonomous status in other countries such as Iraq.

    • Andre Van Dijk Reply
      June 10, 2022 at 1:30 pm

      You are so right Nathan. The Article had to have this “Anti-Turk” angle, hence why Matthew took the liberty to make a statement without researching or knowing what PKK was. I am defnitely not supporting what the current Turkish guy is doing and how he is leading his country, but this does not mean I will not oppose this non factual point. A shame as I was an avid reader of this blog, but I am not going to continue following someone who names a terrorist organization (yes Matthew, terrorist) killing civilians (especially children, doctors, teachers) “freedom fighters”. Such a joke.

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        June 10, 2022 at 1:42 pm

        I meant YPG, not PKK. Thanks.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 10, 2022 at 1:45 pm

      @Nathan: YPG, not PKK.

  7. X-USSR Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 11:49 am

    @ All – it’s not “one little man’, it’s 60-70% of the nation (Russia that is) as well as 75% of the former 3rd world (non aligned) support that “special operation”. One again it’s not Putin, it’s a lot more than just Putin…..

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 11:52 am

      A majority supports this latest war or aggression because of a censored state-run media that silences dissent and serves a cheerleader for the Kremlin and incubator for fake news, like the canard that Ukraine is no different than Nazi Germany.

      • Aaron Reply
        June 9, 2022 at 12:02 pm

        “as 75% of the former 3rd world (non aligned) support that “special operation”.”

        Now you’re making up random numbers.

  8. Ryan Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 12:56 pm

    The world would be a better place if there were no Russians in it.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 1:06 pm

      I have many dear Russian friends. That is not the point I was making. Just as Americans were hoodwinked by the Iraq invasion, so to are many Russians hoodwinked by state-issued propaganda which is parroted by the media.

      • Ryan Reply
        June 9, 2022 at 2:01 pm

        They have a long history of getting hoodwinked by strongmen. At some point, it’s just in the DNA. I have Russian friends too – and they are lovely – but as a nation, they are just the worst.

  9. Rudy Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 1:09 pm

    It’s funny that the US can preventively try and invade a country ( Cuba) keep a bit of their territory and still maintain sanctions against it until this day and everybody thinks all is good and ok… And then Russia does exactly the same and everyone says they are maniac war crazy mad man.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 9, 2022 at 1:17 pm

      Pretty weak analogy. The US supported Cuba’s war of independence against Spain. It was also right to be weary of Cuba after the communist revolution, though I certainly don’t condone the CIA tactics, nor do I support U.S. sanctions. Holding a strategic U.S. base that was negotiated by contract is quite different than bombing Havana or Santiago over false charges of ethic cleansing…

  10. Mexican Freedom Fighter Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 3:06 pm

    Kurdish freedom fighters? Lul. Come and live southern and eastern border of Turkey and say it again! They are bloody terrorists whom feeded by USA and other multifaced nations.

  11. AyL Reply
    June 9, 2022 at 6:58 pm

    turkey should’ve been kicked out of NATO long ago

    • FearlessTraveller Reply
      June 16, 2022 at 5:37 pm

      They shouldn’t have been admitted in the first place.

  12. Mr. Bill Reply
    June 10, 2022 at 4:54 am

    Back to regular programming. If the Russian airlines try to relocate to Turkey or Armenia are they not exposed to the leasing companies trying to re-posses their aircraft?? Russia cancelled a lot if not all the leases but the creditors want their planes back. Now, Turkey and/or Armenia could try and get in the way but wont international treaties start to kick in??? Also, just cause they in Turkey or Armenia does not mean Boeing or Airbus will now all the sudden supply parts/support??

  13. H.T Reply
    June 10, 2022 at 9:38 am

    For decades now, the Zionists settlers have been terrorizing and illegally cresting new settlements displacing Palestinian women and children while the west stands by quiet. If they can do that, why should we care about what Turkey and Russia is doing to bypass the silly sanctions imposed by the EU and other countries that turn a blind eye to the Israeli atrocities and terror?
    Let’s keep our arguments unbiased and when we look at one group breaking the law, lets look at who else is doing the same.
    Good for Turkey and the Russian carriers’ move. I certainly wish them success and profitability.

  14. Don Reply
    June 10, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    “….An illegal, illogical, irrational, and impracticable war waged by a delusional little man from Russia called Vladimir Putin.”
    So don’t hold back, tell us how you really feel.

  15. Toni Reply
    June 10, 2022 at 2:54 pm

    Can we please not forget the drones Turkey sold to Ukraine that had a tremendous wins for Ukraine?

  16. whocares Reply
    June 11, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    no more nefarious then all the schemes hatched by Wall St, govt lobbyists, corporate marketing departments, corporate $cience, a certain ethnic group which has undue influence due to nepotism/favoritism, etc..etc…really… those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

    But we will anyway….until the glass house is destroyed. I look forward to that moment when many of the glass houses are destroyed. Won’t be long…end of the decade.

  17. Max D. Reply
    June 16, 2022 at 8:01 am

    An interesting article which clarifies a number of strategies being considered by the airlines involved in this possible restructuring and relocation of their business models. Unfortunately, for me at least, the majority of comments were sadly disappointing in many respects. And I do wish folks would learn the difference between Communism and Socialism. They are vastly different. Furthermore, I am highly doubtful the vast majority of those who do manage to elicit a comment on the subject of these two particular political ideologies have ever visited let alone lived in either a Communist or a Socialist country. Finally, to clarify things, I consider myself as fiscally conservative in every respect albeit the fact I still manage to consider myself as being socially liberal. In other words, a Centrist.

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