The Freename Forum

The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation has intervened with the Internet registry ICANN regarding the suspension of .aero domains. In a letter dated 7 June 2024, Deputy Director Andrei Zhivov points out that the US-based .aero registry Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautique (SITA) has stopped accepting registrations or renewals from domain holders based in the Russian Federation since 10 November 2023. This affects 400 Russian domain holders, including over 30 airports and 15 airlines, who will now have to switch to other domains. SITA is basing the suspension on government sanctions imposed after the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine; according to the Russian interpretation, however, domains are exempt under the ‘General Licence No. 25C3, para (b) of the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list’, which is why SITA is acting arbitrarily. ICANN did not respond to the content of the complaint, but merely stated: ‘If you believe the registry operator has failed to comply with any of the obligations set forth by the .aero Top-Level Domain (TLD) Sponsorship Agreement, you may consider submitting a complaint to Contractual Compliance’. According to the latest available figures, a good 13,300 .aero domains are currently registered.

The letter from Russia can be found at:
https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/c ... n24-en.pdf