Russian Aircraft from the Crimean Blacklist is Involved in the Coup Preparations in Venezuela

The joint monitoring group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies, the Maidan of Foreign Affairs and BSNews reports that aircraft VP-BJG of Russia's Moscow-based Nordwind Airlines may be involved in preparations for the coup in Venezuela.

On January 28, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.(MSK) a Boeing 777-2Q8 (ER) with tail number VP-BJG of Nordwind Airlines departed Vnukovo International Airport (VKO, Moscow) for the International Airport of Caracas (CSS). Arrival in the Venezuela capital is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. on January 28, 2019. The aircraft can carry up to 400 passengers.

In September 2018, the VP-BJG aircraft of the Nordwind Airlines provided passenger transportation to the occupied Crimea's Simferopol airport and was subsequently put on the blacklist of vessels that carry out illegal flights to the Russia-occupied peninsula.

The monitoring group regularly compiles databases of aircrafts engaged in illegal regular passenger air transportation to the occupied Crimea and forwards them to official EU and US institutions. In particular, letters with detailed databases have been sent on multiple occasions to the embassies of the EU and the US in Ukraine, the European Union's High Representative, Federica Mogerini, and the US Department of the Treasury.

We continue to emphasize the importance of introducing international sanctions in the field of civil aviation concerning Russian airlines and aircraft involved in illegal air transportation to and from the occupied Crimea.

Note: The Boeing 777-2Q8 (ER) aircraft with tail number VP-BJG of the Russian Nordwind Airlines has also flown to the Turkish and Italian airports.

On December 3rd, 2018, that same aircraft has already flown from Moscow to Caracas and back.

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The airline and aircraft listed above have thereby violated Article 332-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

"Article 332-1. Violation of the procedure for entering and leaving the territory of Ukraine under temporary occupation:

1. Violation of the procedure for entering and leaving the territory of Ukraine under temporary occupation for the purpose of harming the interests of the state are punishable with restraint or imprisonment for up to three years and confiscation of vehicles.
2. The same acts committed repeatedly or with prior conspiracy in a group of people, or by an official through abuse of office are punishable with imprisonment for up to 5 years and deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years, as well as confiscation of vehicles.
3. The actions specified in items 1 or 2 of this Article, if committed by an organized group, are punishable with imprisonment for five to eight years, deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term up to three years, and confiscation of vehicles”

BSNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs (Kyiv) calls on the law enforcement authorities to respond to the violations of the legal procedures for the occupied territory: 

BSNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs have included the airlines and respective aircrafts into the “black list” of those who violated the legal procedures for the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

This means that we closely monitor and carry out other administrative, diplomatic, aviation and law-related actions with regard to these airlines and specific aircrafts. These actions have prospects as good as similar actions with regard to violations committed by ships.  

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The monitoring of the violations of international sanctions against Russia and the legal regime of the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea is supported by the European program initiative of the "Renaissance" International Fund. The views of the authors do not necessarily reflect the position of the position of the "Renaissance" International Fund.