Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam has met with the Russian Ambassador to the Maldives, Levan S. Dzhagaryan, in Male’ amid growing concerns that the Maldives is being used as a hub to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Russia.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the meeting with Ambassador Levan focused on discussions to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
Iruthisham noted in a separate post that the discussions centered on enhancing cooperation in the fields of education and tourism. Russia remains one of the top source markets for tourists visiting the Maldives.
The government has not disclosed further details regarding the meeting.
The issue surfaced following an investigative report by The Wall Street Journal, which revealed that the U.S. government has requested the Maldives to stop the re-export of goods included on the Russian sanctions list.
According to the report, sanctioned goods are being transported to Russia via the Maldives by importing them from various countries and then shipping them out of Velana International Airport on Aeroflot flights.
The items reportedly exported from the Maldives to Russia include microchips that could be used in missile guidance systems, hardware for tracking satellites, and specialized steel bolts required for jet fighters and long-range missiles.
The Wall Street Journal reported that both the U.S. and Europe are exerting pressure on the Maldives over the influx of sanctioned goods into Russia. Citing an official, the publication noted that the Maldives government has been instructed by Western authorities to shut down this supply route.
Based on airway bills, shipping documents, and interviews with officials, the report further alleged that goods are being exported from the Maldives to Russia through the falsification of documentation.
