Britain: Authorities seize aircraft as part of new sanctions against Russia

LAST UPDATE: 12.32

Britain announced today that it had seized a plane linked to a Russian billionaire as part of new aviation sanctions that give authorities the power to detain any Russian aircraft and ban the export of aviation or space-related goods to Russia.

Measures to step up action against Russian aircraft make it a criminal offense to fly or land a Russian aircraft in the United Kingdom.

The ban includes any aircraft owned, operated or chartered by anyone linked to Russia or designated individuals or entities and will include the power to detain any aircraft belonging to persons linked to Russia, the Office said in a statement. .

Transport Secretary Grand Saps said an aircraft had already been seized at Farnborough Airport in the south of England while further investigations were under way.

A British government source has revealed that the private jet is linked to Eugene Svidler, a billionaire business associate of Roman Abramovich, the owner of the Chelsea football team. Svidler could not be reached for comment.

“We know the plane does not belong to a Russian company, it is probably an aircraft registered in Luxembourg. We are carrying out further checks before releasing it,” Saps told LBC radio.

The Ministry of Transport announced that it is working with the Civil Aviation Authority to clarify details about the aircraft, which is registered in Global Jet Luxembourg.

“The ban on Russian-flagged planes in the United Kingdom and the fact that it is a criminal offense to fly them over UK airspace will cause more financial pain to Russia and those close to the Kremlin,” said Foreign Minister Liz Tras. .

The Foreign Office announced today that it will announce new legislation to implement the measures.

Source: AMPE