Kyrgyz Air Company Denies Involvement In Illicit Iranian Cargo For Syria

BISHKEK -- A Kyrgyz Trans Avia (KTA) official has denied any involvement by that company in the transportation of illegal Iranian cargo to Syria.

KTA Vice President Taalaibek Okenov told RFE/RL on June 4 that his company provides Iran's Mahan Air only with passenger planes and has "never transported any cargo to any country."

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Okenov added that his company is well-informed about all its aircraft used by Mahan Air, which are used "exclusively for passenger transportation."

Last week, the U.S. Treasury included KTA on a list of international air companies that "have served as intermediaries for the acquisition of aircraft by Mahan Air and Iran Air as Iran continues to move illicit cargo to Syria for the Assad regime’s violent crackdown against its own citizens."