Russia Fails Reappointment, Expelled from International Civil Aviation Organization Council

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Major foreign media reported on the 1st (local time) that Russia failed to be re-elected as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council.

On that day, at the ICAO General Assembly vote held in Montreal, Canada, for the election of Council members from the 1st group classified as the 'most important countries in air transport,' including the United States, China, and India, Russia received only 80 votes, failing to reach the minimum 86 votes required to remain on the Council.

ICAO is a specialized agency under the United Nations established in 1947 for the development of international civil aviation. It has 193 member countries.

At the General Assembly held every three years, 36 countries elected by member states participate in the ICAO Council. The Council is the highest decision-making body covering legislation, judiciary, and administration in the civil aviation sector, including adopting international standards and mediating aviation disputes between countries.

Foreign media analyzed that this voting result reflects condemnation of Russia for violating aviation-related regulations during its invasion of Ukraine since February.

In response to Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, Russia closed its airspace to airlines from 36 countries, including the 27 European Union (EU) member states. Russia has also been criticized for illegally seizing hundreds of foreign aircraft.

For these reasons, Canada and European countries expressed their opposition to Russia's re-election ahead of the vote.

Yuliya Kovaliu, Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada, stated, "It is important for all ICAO member states to respond to Russia's violation of the 1944 Chicago Convention (Convention on International Civil Aviation)," noting that Russia violated the convention by invading Ukrainian airspace and bombing airports.

At this ICAO General Assembly, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea is challenging for its 8th consecutive term as a Council member. The Council member vote for the 3rd group (13 regional representative countries), to which South Korea belongs, is scheduled for the 4th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.