Moldova has proposed a flight ban for Russian airlines.

A bill restricting flights to Moldova for airlines from several countries aims to bring national legislation into line with EU standards . Moldova is a candidate for EU membership from 2022.

Moldovan authorities plan to impose a flight ban on airlines from several countries, including Russian ones. This was reported by Esp.md, citing a draft law from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

The project, as the portal notes, has been submitted for public consultation and aims to align national legislation with EU standards. According to the document, a significant number of airlines from countries such as Russia , Armenia, Afghanistan, Iran, and others will be included in the list of carriers banned from operating in Moldovan airspace.

In particular, the ban will apply to Russian airlines Aurora, Aviastar-TU, Izhavia, Yakutia, RusJet, UVT Aero, Siberia, Smartavia Airlines, IrAero, Ural Airlines, ALROSA, NordStar, RusLine, Yamal Airlines, NordWind, Ikar, iFly, Pobeda, Aeroflot, Rossiya, SKOL, and UTair.

The Moldovan Ministry of Infrastructure emphasized that the main goal of this project is to align Moldovan legislation with international civil aviation standards. In this context, the authorities aim to improve air transport safety and protect the rights of Moldovan consumers.

Moldova is not an EU member, but it submitted an application for membership in March 2022. That summer, Brussels granted Moldova candidate status alongside Ukraine. President Maia Sandu has not ruled out the possibility of Chisinau joining the EU by 2030, along with the unrecognized Transnistria, although Moldova currently does not control the region.

Following the start of the military operation in Ukraine, Sandu repeatedly stated that Moldova would not join Western sanctions against Russia, but a number of restrictions were later imposed. Specifically, Moldova Agroindbank, the country's largest bank, suspended dollar and euro transfers through the Contact, Unistream, and Zolotaya Korona systems. In 2023, Chisinau joined the sanctions against Russian individuals and entities imposed by the EU in 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Moscow considers Western sanctions illegal and demands their lifting. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called Moldova's accession to EU sanctions "a very hostile step" and promised retaliatory measures.