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Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question regarding the Russian Federation's alleged appeal to ICAO to ease sanctions

24 September 2025 20:43
1539-24-09-2025

Question: In recent days, media reports have circulated claims that the Russian Federation allegedly appealed to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) with a request to ease sanctions against the aviation industry. How would you comment on this?

Maria Zakharova: I consider it necessary to clarify: no one is asking for anything. The Russian Federation demands that ICAO compel certain member states to cease violating international law, including the UN Charter and the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).

Specifically, as far back as October 2023, the Russian Federation, in accordance with Article 84 of the Chicago Convention, submitted a complaint to the ICAO Council regarding violations of the Convention's provisions by 37 ICAO member states. These include all EU members, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Albania, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Switzerland. The ground for initiating these proceedings was the imposition by the respondent states of unilateral, discriminatory restrictive measures in civil aviation against the Russian Federation and its aviation enterprises.

Moreover, at the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly, which commenced on September 23, the Russian delegation tabled working document A42-WP/256, titled "Incompatibility of Unilateral Coercive Measures with the Provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Their Impact on International Civil Aviation and the Consequences of Their Application." This document explicitly states that ICAO must take all possible steps to prevent member states from employing politicised, discriminatory coercive measures in the sphere of international civil aviation.

At the opening of the session, the Russian delegation underscored that, despite the unilateral restrictive measures imposed by a number of ICAO member states in violation of the Chicago Convention and other norms of international law, Russia's civil aviation sector continues to develop dynamically. Russian and foreign airlines are increasing transport volumes and expanding their route networks, thereby demonstrating foreign states' sustained interest in cooperation with the Russian Federation in air transportation.