Maldives Used as Route for Russian Sanctions Evasion
The Maldives has reportedly become a transit route for hundreds of millions of dollars in restricted Western goods headed to Russia. According to The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, Sept. 1, cargo is transferred through Malé airport and flown to Moscow, highlighting another channel used to bypass sanctions imposed on the country in response to the war against Ukraine.
The Maldives has become an unexpected transit hub for goods headed to Russia, as the EU tightens sanctions on Moscow. Documents, cargo records, and interviews with Western officials revealed that Russia-linked logistics networks have used Malé, the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago, to move hundreds of millions of dollars worth of restricted goods.
Local intermediaries help transfer cargo from ports in the US, Europe, and China to daily Aeroflot flights to Moscow. Companies like Freight Care and Go Investment assist with paperwork, coordination, and ensuring cargo transfer between airplanes and Aeroflot flights. Once the cargo reaches Malé, a new air waybill is issued for the flight to Moscow, allowing the goods to avoid customs checks and formal imports.
Goods shipped to Russia include microchips, aerospace bolts, and aircraft components, many of which have military applications. While the trade volume is still modest compared to other channels, it has surged since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The US and EU are pressuring Maldivian authorities to close this route, but the Maldives' reliance on tourism makes relations with Russia crucial.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has a personal connection to the Maldives, having studied there and learned its language.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
