Espreso Global Sanctions against Russia Russia seeks lifting of aviation sanctions over flight safety concerns

Russia seeks lifting of aviation sanctions over flight safety concerns

Kate Kikot

22 September, 2025 Monday

20:57

Sanctions against Russia

Russia is urging leaders of the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), meeting in Montreal, to ease sanctions on spare parts and on access to foreign airspace for Russian aircraft

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Reuters reports citing working papers and a source in Russia’s aviation sector.

Since the start of its full-scale war against Ukraine, Western sanctions have cut off Russia’s access to foreign-made aircraft and parts. Russian airlines, which operate over 700 aircraft (mostly Airbus and Boeing), have been forced to import spare parts through complex, indirect channels.

Moscow is now pushing to lift restrictions, particularly on spare parts, which it claims are critical for flight safety. Russia intends to present its arguments to regulators and delegates at the ICAO assembly, running from September 23 to October 3. ICAO sets global aviation safety standards, and its council has previously condemned Moscow for violating Ukraine’s airspace sovereignty and for dual registration of aircraft.

The request comes shortly after the United States lifted sanctions against Belarusian state airline Belavia, imposed when Minsk backed Moscow’s invasion.

Russian documents criticize the closure of airspace by 37 countries to Russian carriers, along with bans on aircraft maintenance and insurance. In its submissions, Moscow argued that sanctions contravene global rules.

"Unlawful coercive measures violate the human right to freedom of movement regardless of nationality and citizenship," one Russian paper said, cited by Reuters.

"The ICAO is required to take all practical measures to prevent states from applying politically biased discriminatory and coercive measures in the field of international civil aviation."

Russia is also seeking election to ICAO’s 36-member governing council, after failing to win enough votes in 2022.

As the world’s largest country, Russia relies heavily on commercial aircraft for domestic freight and passenger transport, but recent incidents highlight a deteriorating fleet. Russia’s Boeing and Airbus aircraft are aging, and not all parts can be procured through so-called “gray” imports, a Russian aviation source told Reuters.