The Bureau of Industry and Security has denied export privileges to three Russian airlines for violating export controls, the Commerce Department reported.
The denial of export privileges to Aeroflot, Azur Air and UTair was ordered by BIS Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod, according to an April 7 news release.
“The Biden administration has imposed historic sanctions on Russia for its unwarranted aggression in Ukraine,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, according to the release. “With today’s temporary denial orders, the Department of Commerce takes another significant action to hold Putin and his enablers accountable for their inexcusable actions.”
These temporary denial orders end the right of the companies to participate in transactions covered by the Export Administration Regulations, according to the release. The orders will be valid for 180 days and may be renewed if deemed necessary.
“The images we are seeing coming out of Ukraine demonstrate Vladimir Putin’s barbarism, brutality and blatant disregard for human life,” Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said, according to the release. “The Department of Commerce, along with the entire Biden-Harris administration, have taken swift and unprecedented action to ensure that Russia, and its enablers, pay a price for their actions.”
An impact already has been seen from the export controls, Graves said. Exports to Russia of U.S. products subject to new licensing requirements dropped 99 percent by value compared to the same time period last year, according to the release.
“With today’s action we send a clear message to those who deliberately disobey those same controls: defy our export controls at your own peril,” Graves said.
