Vladimir Putin is said to be smuggling illegal immigrants into Europe through a fake airline. German publication Bild has reported the existence of the bogus airline, “Southwind Airlines”, allegedly created by Russia to facilitate the transportation of illegal immigrants to the bloc via Belarus.
The investigative report discloses a web of connections involving Russian and Turkish interests, raising concerns among Polish security authorities.
According to Bild’s findings, Southwind Airlines, purportedly a Turkish charter airline based in Antalya, was established in April 2022 amidst the war in Ukraine.
Despite its Turkish facade, three aeroplanes and a significant portion of the company’s workforce are linked to Moscow-based Nordwind Airlines, which is owned by Pegas Touristik, a company owned by Russians with Turkish roots.
Belarus recently announced direct flights between Istanbul and Minsk, coinciding with the initiation of Southwind Airlines operations. The airline is offering direct flights between major cities in Belarus and Turkey for approximately 195 euros per flight.
Polish security authorities have reportedly raised the alarm about a “new, organised flow of refugees through Russia and Belarus,” with Southwind Airlines identified as a key player in this scheme.
Internal information from the Polish Ministry of the Interior indicates an “excessively high” potential for a targeted flow of illegal refugees to Western Europe through the new airline.
The reports align with recent statements from Polish Security Authorities, suggesting that Russia and Belarus are intensifying a “hybrid operation aimed at exacerbating migration and, thus, the political crisis in Western countries, especially in Germany.”
Southwind Airlines’ original mission, as per media reports, was to prevent Russian tourists from travelling to other countries. However, the airline’s involvement in an alleged scheme to facilitate illegal immigration has raised eyebrows globally.
Notably, the media has speculated that the creation of the airline is part of a broader plan orchestrated by Russia, with Vladimir Putin allegedly involved in the operation.
The implications of such a scheme on European stability and the potential for further political fallout are yet to be fully understood.
