Ottawa takes action to confiscate a Russian plane at Toronto Airport

The Antonov 124, one of the largest planes in the world, has been part of the landscape at Pearson in Toronto airport for over three years. Motorists can see it from Highway 427, often without suspecting that the device is at the center of a case followed in many countries.

It all started in February 2022, when Canada closed its airspace to Russian companies in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Antonov 124, which was at the airport Pearsonis then nailed to the ground.

The following year, former Prime minister Justin Trudeau announced the seizure of the aircraft with the ultimate intention to hand it over to Ukraine.

However, the Canadian government must first confiscate the plane to become the owner. Right now, Antonov 124 still belongs to the Russian carrier Volga-Dnepr.

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The lawyer specializing in international sanctions William Pellerin explains that the case attracts the attention of Western countries because it is out of the ordinary.

It is really the first time on a global scale that there is a country that has moved forward to confiscate goods without that there has been criminal against a gamehe explains.

There are several countries, including the United States for example, which have managed to grasp and confiscate goods from Russian parties, such as super yachtshe adds. But here there is no criminal charge against Volga-Dnepr. We simply sanctioned Volga-Dnepr because they are part of Russian industry.

Volga-Dnepr and war

In a document discreetly deposited before the Ontario Superior Court in March, the federal government requests that the plane be confiscated and handed over to the crown.

He lists the affected parties, which include the company Volga-Dneprhis subsidiaries, the Russian entrepreneur Aleksei Ivanovich Isaykin and the Russian bank Sberbank.

In its publications, Global Affairs Canada says the Russian transport sector plays A key role in supporting Russia’s continuous aggression against Ukraine by facilitating the movement of weapons and material essential to the war effort. He adds having sanctioned several players linked to the Wagner paramilitary group and the Russian aviation sector, of which Volga-Dnepr.

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In Volga-Dnepr Nor the Ottawa lawyer firm that represents her in Canada wanted to comment.

However, the company defended itself before the Federal Court in a request filed in 2023 to be withdrawn from the list of entities sanctioned by Canada.

She then denied being an accomplice of President Vladimir Putin, of the Wagner group or to be linked to military operations in Ukraine. According to her, the Canadian government bases its allegations on erroneous information.

Volga-Dnepr Also said that his Antonov 124 was at Pearson airport in February 2022 to deliver rapid COVID-19 screening tests for a humanitarian mission When he found himself stuck on the ground presentation to the elements and without receiving an interview.

Doctor of War Studies at the Royal Military College in Canada, Frédéric Labarre, thinks that the allegations of the Canadian government are credible.

It is a civil plane that belongs to a private company. However, the owners of these companies are never really far from the Kremlin.

He adds that in addition to being able to serve the transport of equipment, the device could be cannibalized for its parts in order to refresh other Russian planes or even make weapons. It is an airplane with important electronic components that could be used to do missiles.

Frédéric Labarre also disputes the company’s statements on his presence in Canada. It was not a humanitarian mission, it was a commercial mission.

A seizure illegal According to Russia

The Russian Embassy in Ottawa describes the seizure of the plane as illegal et unacceptablein an email sent to Radio-Canada.

It seems that the plane of Volga-Dnepr was deliberately attracted to the country, knowing perfectly well that it would not be allowed to leave.

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The company is also fighting against Canada in front of international institutions.

According to World Affairs Canada, an arbitration has been filed under the United Nations Commission for International Commercial Commission (CNUDCI).

In a press release last August, Volga-Dnepr had estimated that he had suffered a prejudice of US $ 100 million.

Arbitration could take years before finding a outcome, according to observers.

Meanwhile, the lawyer of Volga-Dnepr In Russia, Kirill udovichenkowrote to Radio-Canada that he asked the Cnudci to prohibit any illegal action (such as early confiscation) Until the final dispute has been made.

Can the plane fly?

After more than three years on the ground and exposed to the elements, can Antonov 124 still fly?

The aviation specialist and professor at McGill University, John Gradek, says that the device certainly needs a careful repair, which is not without difficulty. First, you need the mechanics who know the devicehe explains. There are not many elsewhere in Ukraine or Russia.

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He adds that Canada may also have difficulty finding replacement parts and that they may cost millions of dollars.

If it is necessary to replace the engine on board, there it will be expensive.

Public services and supply Canada (SPAC) confirms that a specialized team went to the airport last March to observe the device, but refuses to give more details.

In the meantime, it’s also SPAC who takes care of paying the parking fees of the plane According to the price scale of the airport, which amounts to more than $ 1,000 per day. The invoice is therefore estimated so far at more than a million $.