Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, private jets often flew from Moscow to Paris, Milan, and Geneva, but after February 24, when Europe began to close its airspace to Russian planes, wealthy Russians began traveling elsewhere. : Central and Central Asia. Especially the East, and here is the new geography of Russia’s wealthy elite.
In May, a new geography of Russian elites was formed, as data from 2,000 flights were analyzed by the New York Times, and the world has one clear center: Dubai.
Threats to close borders, international sanctions and imprisonment after the Russian invasion prompted tens of thousands of people to flee Russia, while journalists, activists and tech workers in Armenia, Georgia and Turkey, relatively affordable neighbors allowed by the Russians. Visa-free entry, they rushed. In Europe, countries like Germany and Latvia accepted the Russians for fear of persecution of their citizens.
But another group of Russians – including businessmen and celebrities – made Dubai their main destination in the UAE.
According to the American newspaper RadarBox, a company that tracks flights, before the attack, 3% of private flights departing from Russia flew to the UAE, primarily to Dubai, and this percentage per week. Increased to 6%. After the start of the attack and 14% until May.
The records provide clear evidence that Western sanctions against Russia have fundamentally changed the lives and habits of Russia’s elites. Analyzes show both private and leased commercial aircraft, although flight patterns show that most aircraft are privately owned.
Prior to the February 24 attack, even in the midst of a deep stalemate in Russian-Western relations, the luxurious European regions of Britain, France, and Switzerland provided shelter for wealthy Russians. But now that European airspace has been closed to Russian planes and European countries have seized Russian oligarchic assets, the days of traveling to Geneva for weekend shopping seem to be over.
In contrast, the geography of the arrival of Russia’s wealthy during the war shows the flight patterns analyzed by the New York Times. The former Soviet Union, which still has close ties to Russia and Ukraine, has increased private jet travel.
But no country like the United Arab Emirates has seen an increase in wealthy Russian travelers, with Dubai Resort and Financial Center as a major hub connecting Moscow to luxury and business opportunities still available from around the world.
“Many people have no choice,” said Daria Poljeva, a Russian journalist who moved to Dubai several years ago and is now witnessing a wave of arrivals.
“This is one of the few places where you can move your business, where there is a market, you can grow your business and you still have a market for international companies,” he added.
Multinational corporations such as Goldman Sachs and Google have relocated their employees from Moscow to Dubai following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One of Russia’s most famous restaurants is working on new projects in Dubai, and a Dubai-based health company recently opened the city’s first Russian sauna just in time for 43 degrees in the summer.
“We had to change it a bit to be in Dubai and we estimate that 90% of its customers are Russian,” said Dominic Laird, the company’s chief executive.
During the May holiday in Russia, with Labor Day on May 1 and World War II Victory Day on May 9, a number of Russian celebrities landed in Dubai. The West is constantly engaged in nuclear destruction. In Dubai, he was photographed carrying a cool drink in a pink swimsuit.
The New York Times analysis shows that even in the midst of tensions between Moscow and the West in the weeks leading up to the invasion of Ukraine, private jets were flying from Russia to Europe. In the first three weeks of February, France was the most popular destination. , Britain and Germany.
After the attack on February 24, private jets continued to fly out of Russia, but in late April none flew to Europe; instead, outside the UAE, planes flew to Turkey, even at a time when Russian yachts and jets were safe havens for Russian boats and jets. When selling killer drones to the Ukrainian army.
Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest country by area, has become another hub for Russian trade. It is the third country in the world where American consulting giant McKinsey relocated hundreds of staff from its Moscow office this spring. A popular destination for aircraft, especially those that left Russia after the attack.
The analysis of this American newspaper shows that despite the international sanctions and the closure of the airspace, some of the senior Russian oligarchs continued to fly around the world after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Dubai has become a focal point for travel as some business leaders have grounded their planes, and analyzes show that more than 70 planes remain in the UAE, or only after weeks of wandering there. Russia is back.
In June, US authorities issued arrest warrants for two planes belonging to Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch and former owner of the Chelsea Football Club. Officials claimed the plane violated US sanctions when it was flown to Russia on March 4.
Source: Lebanon Debate
