Reasons for the East Line raids still stimulating rumours (400 words)

Published: 9/25/2000

The circumstances that led to the closing down of East Line's cargo operations at Domodedovo Airport by the FSB on the 19th September, may have resulted in the diversion of one of the airline's Il-76 to Nizhni Novgorod Airport on the 20th September according to the Deputy Head of the Nizhny Novgorod FSB Yevgeny Sofyin reported in the Nizhni Novgorod media, who failed to elaborate any further. The Il-76 chartered by East Line and carrying cargo from Shenyang to Moscow, was diverted by Domodedovo ATC according to reports, 100 km out of the city to the airport south of Moscow. The reason for the diversion is unclear, but there are reports that a fax had been sent from East Line's General Director Amiran Kurtanidze, saying that a Chinese customer had overloaded the aircraft and the aircraft was carrying 37,000kg as opposed to the 36,300kgs in the manifest. Why you would divert the aircraft, presumably to avoid detection, and then come clean about the over loading infringement seems . In fact it could be speculated that East Line would want to have cargoes at other airports rather than run the risk of seizure or delay by the FSB at Domodedovo. There is no confirmation of this fax from the company and the airline seems to be in disarray, desperately pulling its operation together with the claim being made that the raids by the FSB left them without documents and also a fully functioning computer system. East Line for their part claims that the aircraft was redirected by ATC on the instructions of the FSB, although for what reason remains unclear. The question remains in many commentators minds is, why was the FSB leading the raid if as is claimed by the airline, this is a case relating to contraband and normally the province of the Russian customs service. Rumours have suggested that the action may be related to reports of the airline being involved in the illegal transportation of weapons and explosives, with a case citied of a small quantity of both being found in East Line's facilities earlier this year. Facts however, remain thin on the ground and speculation is rife, but there is little doubt the involvement of the FSB to such an extent suggests that there may be a little bit more than simple contraband or overloading of flights.

Article ID: 2086