Russian airplane manufacturer Sukhoi could see its flagship export deal jeopardized amid a botched Kremlin reshuffle.
The export of Sukhoi's SSJ-100 aircraft to Europe, including a key order to Irish airline CityJet, is set to cease in mid-April in an ongoing licensing row.
Problems first began to surface in 2015, when Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) was stripped of the power to approve and certify aircraft designs as safe.
Its responsibilities were distributed between the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Energy and the Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia.
Yet a prolonged and difficult handover has forced Russia's Prosecutor General's Office to step in, the Kommersant newspaper reported Friday.
Officials found that the Ministry of Transport still hadn't put systems in place or concluded international negotiations a year and a half after the transfer took place.
The problems have caused the EU to refuse export documents issued by Rosaviatsia, claiming that the organization lacks the legislation needed to regulate work carried out on aircraft.
Russian manufacturers have so far been forced to obtain duplicate certificates for their aircraft from both Rosaviatsia and IAC. Export certificates for European authorities are still issued by the Aviation Register of the IAC on behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
That system is set to fall apart in April, when the transition period ends and licensing powers fully switch over to Rosaviation, Kommersant reported.
Prosecutor General Yury Chaika has reportedly already urged Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to force officials to speed up the change-over process.
No formal investigation has been announced, despite reports that Rosaviatsiya "actively forbade aircraft operators to interact with the IAC."
The Sukhoi SSJ-100 is considered to be Russia's first post-Soviet airliner.
The 98-seat regional jet is currently used by a number of airlines worldwide, including Brussels Airlines, Indonesia's Sky Aviation, and Ireland's City Jet.
The IAC and Rosaviatsia did not respond to
the newspaper's request for comment.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
