Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has revealed that efforts to seize a Russian cargo plane stranded for years at Toronto Pearson International Airport have led to the unraveling of the aircraft’s intricate ownership structure. Anand emphasized that this legal process is intertwined with the objective of supporting Ukraine during its current crisis.
The Antonov An-124, a colossal aircraft, has been at the center of a prolonged and convoluted situation, as outlined by Anand in her recent update. The aircraft has been grounded in Toronto since February 2022 when it was enlisted by the Canadian government to transport COVID-19 rapid test kits from China. However, due to Canada’s airspace closure to all Russian flights following the invasion of Ukraine, the plane has been stuck on Canadian soil ever since.
Anand clarified that Canada has maintained possession of the aircraft since the onset of the invasion to prevent its potential use against Ukraine. The aircraft, originally constructed by Ukrainian company Antonov and operated by Russian airline Volga-Dnepr, has faced travel restrictions, with Russia labeling Canada’s actions as “shameless theft.”
The government’s pursuit of forfeiture involves navigating a complex legal landscape, including notifying the various corporate entities involved in the ownership of the plane. Despite serving notice to most parties, challenges persist in reaching all stakeholders, necessitating court intervention to resolve the matter.
In a parallel legal maneuver, Volga-Dnepr is invoking a 1989 bilateral investment agreement between Russia and Canada to support its claim for damages. If successful, the Canadian government intends to return the aircraft to Ukraine, albeit requiring substantial maintenance due to its extended period of inactivity.
Anand underscored the significance of this action, noting the potential to replenish Ukraine’s Antonov fleet following the destruction of some aircraft during the conflict with Russia. Nonetheless, the complexities of the forfeiture case cast uncertainty on the timeline for the cargo plane to come under federal control.