[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22406-22408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07838]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


URAL Airlines JSC, Utrenniy Lane 1-g, Yekaterinburg, Russia 
620025; Order Renewing Temporary Denial of Export Privileges

    Pursuant to section 766.24 of the Export Administration 
Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730-774 (2021) (``EAR'' or ``the 
Regulations''),\1\ I hereby grant the request of the Office of Export 
Enforcement (``OEE'') to renew the temporary denial order (``TDO'') 
issued in this matter on October 13, 2022. I find that renewal of this 
order is necessary in the public interest to prevent an imminent 
violation of the Regulations.
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    \1\ On August 13, 2018, the President signed into law the John 
S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, 
which includes the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, 50 U.S.C. 
4801-4852 (``ECRA''). While section 1766 of ECRA repeals the 
provisions of the Export Administration Act, 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et 
seq. (``EAA'') (except for three sections which are inapplicable 
here), section 1768 of ECRA provides, in pertinent part, that all 
orders, rules, regulations, and other forms of administrative action 
that were made or issued under the EAA, including as continued in 
effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 
50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. (``IEEPA''), and were in effect as of ECRA's 
date of enactment (August 13, 2018), shall continue in effect 
according to their terms until modified, superseded, set aside, or 
revoked through action undertaken pursuant to the authority provided 
under ECRA. Moreover, section 1761(a)(5) of ECRA authorizes the 
issuance of temporary denial orders. 50 U.S.C. 4820(a)(5).
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I. Procedural History

    On October 13, 2022, I signed an order denying URAL Airlines JSC 
(``URAL'') export privileges for a period of 180 days on the ground 
that issuance of the order was necessary in the public interest to 
prevent an imminent violation of the Regulations. The order was issued 
ex parte pursuant to section 766.24(a) of the Regulations and was 
effective upon issuance.\2\
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    \2\ The TDO was published in the Federal Register on October 19, 
2022 (87 FR 63477).
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    On March 7, 2023, BIS, through OEE, submitted a written request for 
renewal of the TDO that issued on October 13, 2022. The written request 
was made more than 20 days before the TDO's scheduled expiration. A 
copy of the renewal request was sent to URAL in accordance with 
sections 766.5 and 766.24(d) of the Regulations. No opposition to the 
renewal of the TDO has been received.

II. Renewal of the TDO

A. Legal Standard

    Pursuant to section 766.24, BIS may issue an order temporarily 
denying a respondent's export privileges upon a showing that the order 
is necessary in the public interest to prevent an ``imminent 
violation'' of the Regulations, or any order, license or authorization 
issued thereunder. 15 CFR 766.24(b)(1) and 766.24(d). ``A violation may 
be `imminent' either in time or degree of likelihood.'' 15 CFR 
766.24(b)(3). BIS may show ``either that a violation is about to occur, 
or that the general circumstances of the matter under investigation or 
case under criminal or administrative charges demonstrate a likelihood 
of future violations.'' Id. As to the likelihood of future violations, 
BIS may show that the violation under investigation or charge ``is 
significant, deliberate, covert and/or likely to occur again, rather 
than technical or negligent[.]'' Id. A ``lack of information 
establishing the precise time a violation may occur does not preclude a 
finding that a violation is imminent, so long as there is sufficient 
reason to believe the likelihood of a violation.'' Id.

B. The TDO and BIS's Request for Renewal

    The U.S. Commerce Department, through BIS, responded to the Russian 
Federation's (``Russia's'') further invasion of Ukraine by implementing 
a sweeping series of stringent export controls that severely restrict 
Russia's access to technologies and other items that it needs to 
sustain its aggressive military capabilities. These controls primarily 
target Russia's defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors and are 
intended to cut off Russia's access to vital technological inputs, 
atrophy key sectors of its industrial base, and undercut Russia's 
strategic ambitions to exert influence on the world stage. Effective 
February 24, 2022, BIS imposed expansive controls on aviation-related 
(e.g., Commerce Control List Categories 7 and 9) items to Russia, 
including a license requirement for the export, reexport or transfer 
(in-country) to Russia of any aircraft or aircraft parts specified in 
Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 9A991 (section 746.8(a)(1) 
of the EAR).\3\ BIS will review any export or reexport license 
applications for such items under a policy of denial. See section 
746.8(b). Effective March 2, 2022, BIS excluded any aircraft registered 
in, owned, or controlled by, or under charter or lease by Russia or a 
national of Russia from being eligible for license exception Aircraft, 
Vessels, and Spacecraft (AVS) (section 740.15 of the EAR).\4\ 
Accordingly, any U.S.-origin aircraft or foreign aircraft that includes 
more than 25% controlled U.S.-origin content, and that is registered 
in, owned, or controlled by, or under charter or lease by Russia or a 
national of Russia, is subject to a license requirement before it can 
travel to Russia.
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    \3\ 87 FR 12226 (Mar. 3, 2022). Additionally, BIS published a 
final rule effective April 8, 2022, which imposed licensing 
requirements on items controlled on the Commerce Control List 
(``CCL'') under Categories 0-2 that are destined for Russia or 
Belarus. Accordingly, now all CCL items require export, reexport, 
and transfer (in-country) licenses if destined for or within Russia 
or Belarus. 87 FR 22130 (Apr. 14, 2022).
    \4\ 87 FR 13048 (Mar. 8, 2022).
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    OEE's request for renewal is based upon the facts underlying the 
issuance of the initial TDO and the evidence developed over the course 
of this investigation, which indicate a blatant disregard for U.S. 
export controls, as well as the TDO. Specifically, the initial TDO, 
issued on October 13, 2022, was based on evidence that URAL engaged in 
conduct prohibited by the Regulations by operating aircraft subject to 
the EAR and classified under ECCN 9A991 on flights into Russia after 
March 2, 2022 from destinations, including Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; 
Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Khudzhand, Tajikistan; and Tamchy, Kyrgyzstan, 
without the required BIS authorization.\5\ Further evidence submitted 
by BIS indicated that URAL was continuing to operate aircraft subject 
to the EAR domestically

[[Page 22407]]

on flights within Russia, potentially in violation of section 
736.2(b)(10) of the Regulations.
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    \5\ Publicly available flight tracking information shows 
multiple flights into Russia, including the following: on September 
10, 2022, SN 5055 flew from Dushanbe, Tajikistan to Irkutsk, Russia, 
and on September 6, 2022, SN 5055 flew from Khudzhand, Tajikistan to 
Sochi, Russia. In addition, on October 6, 2022, serial number (SN) 
5055 flew from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Samara, Russia.
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    In its March 7, 2023 request for renewal of the TDO, BIS has 
submitted evidence that URAL continues to operate in violation of the 
October 13, 2022 TDO and/or the Regulations by operating aircraft 
subject to the EAR and classified under ECCN 9A991 on flights into and 
out of Russia, as well as domestically within Russia. Specifically, 
BIS's evidence and related investigation indicated that URAL has 
continued to operate aircraft subject to the EAR, including, but not 
limited to, on flights into and out of Russia from/to Bishkek, 
Kyrgyzstan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and Khujand, Tajikistan. Information 
about those flights includes, but is not limited to, the following:

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                                                                        Departure/arrival
             Tail No.                Serial No.      Aircraft type           cities                 Dates
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RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Dushanbe, TJ/Ufa, RU  March 20, 2023.
RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Osh, KG/Ufa, RU.....  March 19, 2023.
RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Osh, KG/Krasnoyarsk,  March 19, 2023.
                                                                       RU.
RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Yekaterinburg, RU/    March 16, 2023.
                                                                       Moscow, RU.
RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Irkutsk, RU/Moscow,   March 11, 2023.
                                                                       RU.
RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Yekaterinburg, RU/    March 7, 2023.
                                                                       Moscow, RU.
RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Moscow, RU/           March 5, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Dushanbe, TJ/         February 27, 2023.
                                                                       Chelyabinsk, RU.
RA-73817.........................            5055           A320-232  Dushanbe, TJ/         February 25, 2023.
                                                                       Novosibirsk, RU.
RA-73818.........................            2376           A320-232  Bishkek, KG/          March 19, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73818.........................            2376           A320-232  Moscow, RU/           March 14, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73818.........................            2376           A320-232  Yekaterinburg, RU/    March 11, 2023.
                                                                       Sochi, RU.
RA-73818.........................            2376           A320-232  Kaliningrad, RU/      March 7, 2023.
                                                                       Moscow, RU.
RA-73818.........................            2376           A320-232  Moscow, RU/           March 7, 2023.
                                                                       Kaliningrad, RU.
RA-73818.........................            2376           A320-232  Dushanbe, TJ/Sochi,   March 2, 2023.
                                                                       RU.
RA-73818.........................            2376           A320-232  Dushanbe, TJ/Kazan,   February 24, 2023.
                                                                       RU.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Dushanbe, TJ/         March 21, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Osh, KG/              March 20, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Dushanbe, TJ/         March 19, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Sochi, RU/            March 19, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Dushanbe, TJ/         March 19, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Sochi, RU/Moscow, RU  March 16, 2023.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Kulob, TJ/Moscow, RU  March 15, 2023.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Sochi, RU/            March 12, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Khujand, TJ/          March 11, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
RA-73844.........................            1941           A321-231  Khujand, TJ/          March 6, 2023.
                                                                       Yekaterinburg, RU.
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III. Findings

    Under the applicable standard set forth in section 766.24 of the 
Regulations and my review of the entire record, I find that the 
evidence presented by BIS convincingly demonstrates that URAL has acted 
in violation of the Regulations and the TDO; that such violations have 
been significant, deliberate and covert; and that given the foregoing 
and the nature of the matters under investigation, there is a 
likelihood of imminent violations. Therefore, renewal of the TDO is 
necessary in the public interest to prevent imminent violation of the 
Regulations and to give notice to companies and individuals in the 
United States and abroad that they should avoid dealing with URAL in 
connection with export and reexport transactions involving items 
subject to the Regulations and in connection with any other activity 
subject to the Regulations.

IV. Order

    It is therefore ordered:
    First, URAL Airlines JSC, Utrenniy Lane 1-g, Yekaterinburg, Russia, 
620025, when acting for or on their behalf, any successors or assigns, 
agents, or employees may not, directly or indirectly, participate in 
any way in any transaction involving any commodity, software or 
technology (hereinafter collectively referred to as ``item'') exported 
or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the EAR, or 
in any other activity subject to the EAR including, but not limited to:
    A. Applying for, obtaining, or using any license (except directly 
related to safety of flight), license exception, or export control 
document;
    B. Carrying on negotiations concerning, or ordering, buying, 
receiving, using, selling, delivering, storing, disposing of, 
forwarding, transporting, financing, or otherwise servicing in any way, 
any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the 
United States that is subject to the EAR except directly related to 
safety of flight and authorized by BIS pursuant to section 764.3(a)(2) 
of the Regulations, or engaging in any other activity subject to the 
EAR except directly related to safety of flight and authorized by BIS 
pursuant to section 764.3(a)(2) of the Regulations; or
    C. Benefitting in any way from any transaction involving any item 
exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to 
the EAR, or from any other activity subject to the EAR except directly 
related to safety of flight and authorized by BIS pursuant to section 
764.3(a)(2) of the Regulations.
    Second, that no person may, directly or indirectly, do any of the 
following:
    A. Export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) to or on behalf of 
URAL any item subject to the EAR except directly related to safety of 
flight and authorized by BIS pursuant to section 764.3(a)(2) of the 
Regulations;
    B. Take any action that facilitates the acquisition or attempted 
acquisition by URAL of the ownership, possession, or control of any 
item subject to the EAR that has been or will be exported from the 
United States, including financing or other support activities related 
to a transaction whereby URAL acquires or attempts to acquire such 
ownership, possession or control except directly related to safety of 
flight and authorized by BIS pursuant to section 764.3(a)(2) of the 
Regulations;
    C. Take any action to acquire from or to facilitate the acquisition 
or attempted acquisition from URAL of any item subject to the EAR that 
has been exported from the United States except directly related to 
safety of flight and authorized by BIS pursuant to section 764.3(a)(2) 
of the Regulations;

[[Page 22408]]

    D. Obtain from URAL in the United States any item subject to the 
EAR with knowledge or reason to know that the item will be, or is 
intended to be, exported from the United States except directly related 
to safety of flight and authorized by BIS pursuant to section 
764.3(a)(2) of the Regulations; or
    E. Engage in any transaction to service any item subject to the EAR 
that has been or will be exported from the United States and which is 
owned, possessed or controlled by URAL, or service any item, of 
whatever origin, that is owned, possessed or controlled by URAL if such 
service involves the use of any item subject to the EAR that has been 
or will be exported from the United States except directly related to 
safety of flight and authorized by BIS pursuant to section 764.3(a)(2) 
of the Regulations. For purposes of this paragraph, servicing means 
installation, maintenance, repair, modification, or testing.
    Third, that, after notice and opportunity for comment as provided 
in section 766.23 of the EAR, any other person, firm, corporation, or 
business organization related to URAL by ownership, control, position 
of responsibility, affiliation, or other connection in the conduct of 
trade or business may also be made subject to the provisions of this 
Order.
    In accordance with the provisions of sections 766.24(e) of the EAR, 
URAL may, at any time, appeal this Order by filing a full written 
statement in support of the appeal with the Office of the 
Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Coast Guard ALJ Docketing Center, 40 
South Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4022.
    In accordance with the provisions of section 766.24(d) of the EAR, 
BIS may seek renewal of this Order by filing a written request not 
later than 20 days before the expiration date. A renewal request may be 
opposed by URAL as provided in section 766.24(d), by filing a written 
submission with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export 
Enforcement, which must be received not later than seven days before 
the expiration date of the Order.
    A copy of this Order shall be provided to URAL and shall be 
published in the Federal Register.
    This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect for 
180 days.

Matthew S. Axelrod,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2023-07838 Filed 4-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P