Transparency International reports conflict of interest between Defense Ministry officials and their children who manufacturer “Superjets”

Anti-corruption organization Transparency International has identified a conflict of interest for head of the Aviation Security Service of Russia’s Defense Ministry Sergey Baynetov, whose daughter works for Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, the manufacturer of the Superjet.

Baynetov is responsible for the ministry’s aviation safety, including, among other things, the safety of flights of Foreign and Interior Ministry flights, which involve use of the Superjet.

Baynetov’s daughter is the director of contracts at Sukhoi Civil Aircraft.

“He has a conflict of interest,” read the Transparency International report. “His daughter works for a company that provides paid services to departments in which he has official powers.”

The son of Deputy Defense Minister Ruslan Tsalikov also works for Sukhoi Civil Aircraft. Daniel Tsalikov is the head of sales support. “The potential conflict of interest [is in] the possibility of lobbying the company’s interests.”

In January, newspaper Kommersant reported that old Ministry of Defense aircraft may be replaced by the Superjet. In February, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov denied these claims. According to Borisov, the such aircraft is not suitable for the military.

The Superjet is a short-haul aircraft. Most of these airplanes are owned by Aeroflot.