Azur Air, Sharypovo Airport, 404/1 Kozhevnicheskiy Land, Moscow, Russia; Moscow, Russia; Order Renewing Temporary Denial of Export Privileges

Pursuant to section 766.24 of the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730-774 (“EAR” or “the Regulations”), I hereby grant the request of the Office of Export Enforcement (“OEE”) to renew the temporary denial order (“TDO”) issued in this matter on September 23, 2023. I find that renewal of this order is necessary in the public interest to prevent an imminent violation of the Regulations and that renewal for an extended period is appropriate because Azur Air (“Azur”) has engaged in a pattern of repeated, ongoing and/or continuous apparent violations of the EAR.

I. Procedural History

On April 7, 2022, I signed an order denying Azur export privileges for a period of 180 days on the ground that issuance of the order was necessary in the public interest to prevent an imminent violation of the Regulations. The order was issued ex parte pursuant to section 766.24(a) of the Regulations and was effective upon issuance. The temporary denial order was subsequently renewed on October 3, 2022, March 29, 2023, and September 23, 2023 in accordance with section 766.24(d) of the Regulations.

On August 27, 2024, BIS, through OEE, submitted a written request for a fourth renewal of the TDO. The written request was made more than 20 days before the TDO's scheduled expiration and, given the temporary suspension of international mail service to Russia, OEE has attempted to deliver a copy of the renewal request to Azur by alternative means in accordance with sections 766.5 and 766.24(d) of the Regulations. No opposition to the renewal of the TDO has been received.

II. Renewal of the TDO

A. Legal Standard

Pursuant to section 766.24, BIS may issue an order temporarily denying a respondent's export privileges upon a showing that the order is necessary in the public interest to prevent an “imminent violation” of the Regulations, or any order, license or authorization issued thereunder. 15 CFR 766.24(b)(1) and 766.24(d). “A violation may be `imminent' either in time or degree of likelihood.” 15 CFR 766.24(b)(3). BIS may show “either that a violation is about to occur, or that the general circumstances of the matter under investigation or case under criminal or administrative charges demonstrate a likelihood of future violations.” Id. As to the likelihood of future violations, BIS may show that the violation under investigation or charge “is significant, deliberate, covert and/or likely to occur again, rather than technical or negligent[.]” Id. A “lack of information establishing the precise time a violation may occur does not preclude a finding that a violation is imminent, so long as there is sufficient reason to believe the likelihood of a violation.” Id.

If BIS believes that renewal of a denial order is necessary in the public interest to prevent an imminent violation, it may file a written request for renewal, with any modifications if appropriate. 15 CFR 766.24(d)(1). The written request, which must be filed no later than 20 days prior to the TDO's expiration, should set forth the basis for BIS's belief that renewal is necessary, including any additional or changed circumstances. Id. “In cases demonstrating a pattern of repeated, ongoing and/or continuous apparent violations, BIS may request the renewal of a temporary denial order for an additional period not exceeding one year.” ⁷ Id.

B. The TDO and BIS's Request for Renewal

The U.S. Commerce Department, through BIS, responded to the Russian Federation's (“Russia's”) further invasion of Ukraine by implementing a sweeping series of stringent export controls that severely restrict Russia's access to technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its aggressive military capabilities. These controls primarily target Russia's defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors and are intended to cut off Russia's access to vital technological inputs, atrophy key sectors of its industrial base, and undercut Russia's strategic ambitions to exert influence on the world stage. Effective February 24, 2022, BIS imposed expansive controls on aviation-related ( e.g., Commerce Control List Categories 7 and 9) items to Russia, including a license requirement for the export, reexport or transfer (in-country) to Russia of any aircraft or aircraft parts specified in Export Control Classification Number (“ECCN”) 9A991 (section 746.8(a)(1) of the EAR). BIS will review any export or reexport license applications for such items under a policy of denial. See section 746.8(b). Effective March 2, 2022, BIS excluded any aircraft registered in, owned, or controlled by, or under charter or lease by Russia or a national of Russia from being eligible for license exception Aircraft, Vessels, and Spacecraft (“AVS”) (section 740.15 of the EAR). Accordingly, any U.S.-origin aircraft or foreign aircraft that includes more than 25% controlled U.S.-origin content, and that is registered in, owned, or controlled by, or under charter or lease by Russia or a national of Russia, is subject to a license requirement before it can travel to Russia.

OEE's request for renewal for a period of one year is based upon the facts underlying the issuance of the TDO and the renewal orders subsequently issued in this matter on October 3, 2022, March 29, 2023, and September 23, 2023, as well as other evidence developed during this investigation. This evidence demonstrates that Azur has continued, and continues, to act in blatant disregard for U.S. export controls and the terms of previously issued TDOs. Specifically, the initial TDO, issued on April 7, 2022, was based on evidence that Azur engaged in conduct prohibited by the Regulations by operating multiple aircraft subject to the EAR and classified under ECCN 9A991.b on flights into Russia after March 2, 2022 from destinations including, but not limited to, Nha Trang, Vietnam, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (“UAE”), and Antalya, Turkey, without the required BIS authorization. Further evidence indicated that Azur also operated aircraft subject to the EAR on domestic flights within Russia, potentially in violation of section 736.2(b)(10) of the Regulations.

As discussed in the prior renewal orders, BIS presented evidence indicating that, after the initial TDO issued, Azur continued to operate aircraft subject to the EAR and classified under ECCN 9A991.b on flights both into and out of Russia, in violation of the Regulations and the TDO itself. The October 3, 2022 renewal order detailed flights into and out of Russia from/to Antalya, Turkey, Dalaman, Turkey, and Bodrum, Turkey. The March 29, 2023 order detailed flights into and out of Russia from/to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Goa, India, Male, Maldives, Rayong, Thailand, and Adana, Turkey. Similarly, the September 23, 2023 order detailed flights into and out of Russia from/to Hurghada, Egypt, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Phuket, Thailand, Antalya Turkey, and Dalaman, Turkey.

Since that time, Azur has continued to engage in conduct prohibited by the applicable TDO and Regulations. In its August 27, 2024 request for renewal of the TDO, BIS submitted evidence that Azur continues to operate aircraft subject to the EAR and classified under ECCN 9A991.b, both on flights into and within Russia, in violation of the September 23, 2023 renewal order and/or the Regulations. Specifically, BIS's evidence and related investigation demonstrates that Azur continues to operate aircraft subject to the EAR, including, but not limited to, on flights into and out of Russia from/to Hurghada, Egypt, Antalya, Turkey, and Dalaman, Turkey. Information about those flights includes, but is not limited to, the following: