The Federal Air Transportation Agency has refused to look into Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's stunt piloting a firefighting aircraft in August, calling it an overly “multifaceted” issue, blogger and activist Alexei Navalny said Monday.
Navalny requested a check after Putin co-piloted the aircraft during this summer's wildfires, saying he should be fined because he had no pilot's license.
But the Federal Air Transportation Agency said in a reply dated Oct. 20 that it was not responsible for state-owned aircraft — including Putin's plane — and failed to establish which agency should handle the check into the incident.
Navalny promised on his blog to pursue the matter. Putin has not commented on the issue.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.