Russia has lost its place on the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 36-member governing council after failing to win enough votes from fellow members. The country's violation of Ukrainian airspace and "theft" of hundreds of foreign aircraft was cited against it.

Russia out of ICAO governing council

Russia will no longer be part of the ICAO's governing council following its actions in Ukraine this year. The country received 80 votes, six short of the required 86 votes to be on the ICAO's governing council, which is reserved for "states of chief importance in air transport."

Prior to the vote, several countries advised voting against Russia's membership in the 36-country governing council, including Canada and European nations. Russia has contested the result of the vote and called for a procedural review.

A Russian representative told Reuters,

"We'd like to express regret regarding the outcome of the voting. We view this as a purely political step and has nothing to do with Russia's position in the field of civil aviation."

Russia is accused of a variety of offenses that go against the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, such as bombing civilian airports and dual-registering aircraft.

Several Russian aircraft parked.
There are hundreds of foreign-owned aircraft trapped in Russia. Photo: Getty Images.

Adina Valean, European Union Transport Commissioner, said,

"We cannot accept that a member, breaching so clearly the Chicago Convention, sits in the very council that should act as its guardian. This is not about politics. It is about the fundamentals of this organization."

Additionally, Russia's ongoing dispute with aviation lessors has led to hundreds of lucrative foreign aircraft being stuck in the country with no clear path to repatriation. While a tiny fraction of foreign planes have been returned to their owners, the vast majority have been re-registered in Russia as Moscow continues to deny allegations of theft.

Earlier this summer, the ICAO urged Russia to stop the dual-registration of aircraft after the country moved around 450 planes to its register, a clear violation of the Chicago Convention.

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An unprecedented change

This week's change within the ICAO is the first major shake-up to its premier governing council in around four decades and the first time a member has ever been voted out. Other than the addition of China in 2004, the top tier of the group has not changed in over 40 years.

The Montreal-based ICAO, which has 193 member states, is hosting its first assembly in three years, with a consensus on reducing airline emissions hot on the agenda.

Do you agree with the ICAO's decision to remove Russia from its governing council? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Reuters