U.S. Sanctions Maltese Aircraft Management Firm

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of State–sanctioned aircraft management company Emperor Aviation and eight of its aircraft earlier this month. The sanctions are part of a larger sanction of a global Russian supply chain, and Kremlin-linked networks and individuals.

Emperor, which is based in Malta and Russia, was sanctioned for coordinating luxury travel for the immediate family of Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov, including his daughter, after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Kerimov was sanctioned in September “for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the Government of the Russian Federation.”

Further, OFAC identified eight aircraft—in which Emperor has an interest—as blocked property. Those eight include three Bombardier Global Expresses and a Global 5000; a Cessna Citation XLS+; two Gulfstream G650s; and a Bombardier Challenger.