Ukraine files criminal charges against Russia’s top transport officials

Russia’s transport minister and his deputy are suspected of organizing the “illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine.”

That’s according to Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General.

The two suspects have been informed of the charges pressed under Part 3 Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, says the statement released on Friday, December 24.

According to the inquiry, the suspects, holding senior positions at the largest Russian carrier PJSC Aeroflot, after all Ukrainian airport border checkpoints and other control checkpoints in the temporarily occupied territory of the Crimean peninsula suspended operations, set up a criminal scheme. From April 2014 to November 2020, more than 34,000 inbound and outbound flights were operated. Thus, at least 329,000 persons were smuggled across the state border of Ukraine.

The flights were operated contrary to the norms of international law and air law of Ukraine. Despite the direct bans issued by the Ukrainian aviation authorities and the recommendations of the international organizations in the field of civil aviation, the Russian carrier operated illegal scheduled passenger flights to the formally closed international airport Simferopol and back.

Pre-trial inquiry in criminal proceedings is being carried out by the Investigative Department of the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Memo. In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal prosecution until their guilt is proved in a lawful manner and fixated in a court verdict.

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