Russian airlines continuing to accrue lease payments for foreign planes in rubles - transport minister

MOSCOW. June 21 (Interfax) - Russian airlines are continuing to accumulate lease payments for foreign aircraft in rubles, Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said in an interview with Nailya Asker-zade on the Rossiya 24 television channel.

"I want to note that we don't have anything that we haven't returned and have taken aircraft [from foreign lessors]. No, we haven't expropriated anything from anyone. Our airlines are continuing to collect lease payments in rubles in C accounts," Savelyev said.

"If the owner wants to receive [them], he converts [rubles to foreign currency] and takes. But sanctions don't allow us to pay in currency, although companies could pay, on the one hand. But on the other hand, they [lessors] aren't ready to convert the money that we're placing into C accounts. That's the story," he said.