A French company based in Chateauroux is continuing to supply avionics and other on-board electronics for Russian aircraft used by senior military and political figures, according to an investigation by the French newspaper Le Parisien.
The company, PGA, a subsidiary of the American group Astronics, is providing advanced systems that control various aspects of flight, from cabin lighting to communication and data transmission systems, for aircraft used by top Russian officials.
“For the equipment, modernization, or maintenance of aircraft of top officials and oligarchs of Russia, the Russian authorities turn to specialists from a company based in the heart of France, in Chateauroux, several thousand kilometers from Moscow,” the investigation notes.
The equipment supplied by PGA allows for secure and reliable communication for mobile phones used by Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, the head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Dmitry Medvedev, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, and other high-ranking officials.
Aircraft such as the Il-96 and Sukhoi 100 superjets, used by Shoigu and Peskov, are among those equipped with the supplied electronics.
Business with Russian customers not only persisted despite sanctions but also expanded, with the company reportedly earning between €4 and €5 million ($4.3 and $5.3 million, which corresponds to equipping seven aircraft.
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To circumvent sanctions, the investigation reveals a complex scheme involving the shipment of equipment in containers filled with various items to a company operating near Yerevan, Armenia, before being transported to Moscow for installation. Payments to the French company are reportedly routed through Dubai, in the UAE.
However, complications arose in the scheme following tensions between Russia and Armenia, forcing a change in the shipping route directly to Moscow. This information was uncovered through tracking devices attached to the cargo.
The revelation adds to concerns over the effectiveness of Western sanctions against Russia.
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Comments (2)
Disgusting. They need to be investigated and imprisoned if it is found they are in fact breaking sanctions.
It is unclear what happens to those who violate sanctions
@Sasha, Violating war sanctions shows either corporate leadership's enemy allegiance or lack of ethics. Hopefully a criminal investigation follows. Certainly this black mark poses grounds to restrict their access to government aid or contracts.
The challenging thing is to find out who is violating sanctions in the absence of an internal whistleblower.....just another way workers can help thwart unprincipled business leaders that would support putin's regime for their own gain.
I see the USA parent company since 2013 Astronics Corporation, is listed on the NASDAQ (symbol ATRO). It's already missed its earnings estimates at least the last 3 quarters, is currently on the underside of its slightly declining 200 day moving average. Its a small enough company that any bad news should make its share price bounce lower off that. Think I'll buy some in the money PUTS tomorrow when the market opens. Pure speculation.