FlyOne Armenia says Moldova’s sanctions on FlyOne not connected to it

By Alexander Pracht

FlyOne Armenia said on Tuesday that its operations remain unaffected by Moldova’s decision to place the FlyOne airline on its sanctions list.

In a statement to CivilNet, the Yerevan-based airline stressed that the decision taken by the Information and Security Service of Moldova has no connection with the activities of FlyOne Armenia. It is a separate company and not a subsidiary of the Moldovan carrier, although FlyOne holds a minority stake.

Moldova’s Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) announced Monday that it was sanctioning FlyOne and key figures linked to the company, including its head Vladimir Cebotari, a former Moldovan justice minister. According to the SIS, the measures are tied to the activities of Moldovan oligarch and former politician Vladimir Plahotniuc, who was detained in Greece last month on a global arrest warrant for creating a criminal organization, money laundering, and other crimes.

The SIS order did not specify the scope of the restrictions, though such measures typically involve asset freezes and bans on financial transactions.

FlyOne Armenia has become an important carrier for Armenia, operating extensive routes between Yerevan, Russia, and European destinations. The airline plays a key role as most European countries — including Moldova — have banned Russian airlines from their airspace since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. For Russians traveling to Europe, Yerevan is one of the few affordable transit points.

It is also significant for Armenian passengers, since Armenian airlines are barred from entering EU airspace due to safety oversight deficiencies at the national regulator. For many destinations, FlyOne Armenia remains among the few affordable options linking Yerevan to European cities.

Moldova’s pro-Western government has sought to curb Russian political influence in recent years, shaping its approach to sanctions and restrictions.