Indian national arrested in US for illegally exporting aviation parts to Russia

The United States has charged an Indian national, Sanjay Kaushik, for conspiring to illegally export controlled US aviation components to Russia.

57-year-old Kaushik was arrested in Miami in October after he landed from India on an official travel, under a criminal complaint, and was indicted on November 20 in the District of Oregon, the US Justice Department said. Kaushik is the Managing Partner of New Delhi-based air charter services provider Arezo Aviation.

Kaushik faces charges of conspiring to export aviation components with both civilian and military applications to Russia, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act. Additionally, Kaushik is accused of attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia via India and making false statements related to the export.

Court documents reveal that, starting in March 2023, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kaushik conspired with others to unlawfully acquire aerospace goods and technology from the US for Russian entities. The goods were purchased under the false pretense that they would be supplied to Kaushik and his Indian company, although they were intended for Russian end users.

At present, Kaushik is detained in an Oregon jail.

Citing him as a flight risk, US Magistrate Judge Stacie F Beckerman ordered that he remain in custody. Kaushik, if convicted, could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison as well as up to $1 million fine per count under the indictment.