Russian Air Defense Manufacturer Lost Sanctions Relief Action

According to Meduza, the court stated in its judgement that the European Council had presented sufficient evidence that Russia supplies arms to separatists in the eastern Ukraine. By producing air defense systems for Russian army, Almaz-Antey thus indirectly supports violation of territorial integrity of the neighbor state, the court said.


The European Council, however, did not have to prove the direct use by the separatists of weapons made by the company to substantiate sanctions, added the judge. By the way, the judgement was not affected by the Boeing plane crash which, as investigators say, was shot in Ukrainian skies by the Buk air defense system produced by Almaz-Antey.

Sanctions against the arms producing company were imposed in the summer 2014 as an extension of prohibitive measures against Russia in connection with the conflict in the eastern Ukraine.

Russia denies its involvement in the conflict and arms supplies to separatist troops that control part of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

Malaysian Boeing-777 fell down on July 17, 2014 in Donetsk region. All 298 people onboard died. The international investigative group concluded the airplane was shot down by the Buk missile air defense system that had arrived before the accident from Russia.