Canada has kept the Russian An-124 aircraft impounded
A Canadian federal court upheld the authorities’ decision to deny the Russian airline “Volga-Dnepr” and its former CEO a request to lift sanctions. Consequently, the company’s An-124 cargo plane remains impounded at the Toronto airport.
A Canadian federal judge rejected Volga-Dnepr’s attempt to overturn the sanctions imposed by Canada against the company and its former director.
The court concluded that the airline failed to prove that the Canadian ministry’s decision was unfounded or procedurally unfair.
These were precisely the arguments Volga-Dnepr relied on in its complaint.
The Russian company claimed that it had ceased transporting military cargo as early as 2018 and had no connection to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
However, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not agree with these assertions.
The Canadian side stated that Volga-Dnepr had helped Russia circumvent allied restrictions on military and other sensitive goods.
As evidence, the ministry cited uncovered contracts and information about subsidies related to the company’s activities.
Thus, the court’s decision means that the Russian An-124 cargo plane will remain impounded at the Toronto airport.
The Canadian court did not uphold the lifting of sanctions against “Volga-Dnepr” and its former CEO.
This was reported by United24 Media.
As a reminder, the European Union plans to introduce a new package of sanctions against Russia in the coming months, which could be the most extensive since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Switzerland has expanded its sanctions lists against Russia due to its war against Ukraine, adding nine individuals and 45 organizations. The updated restrictive measures by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) took effect on August 11. Information regarding 11 additional individuals and companies already subject to sanctions was also updated.
