France may have delivered military cargo to Armenia in violation of Chicago Convention

France may have transported military supplies to Armenia under the guise of civilian cargo, which violates the provisions of the 1944 Chicago Convention.

Report informs that this conclusion can be drawn based on data on flights by French military transport aircraft to Armenia.

Anewz TV, in turn, presented both the official version of the French media and data on French aviation flights to Yerevan.

French media presented the official version of events, including coverage by Le Figaro of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Yerevan last week, which was described as part of a strategic partnership with Armenia. This cooperation already includes defense-related elements, such as Armenia's 2024 order for 36 French Caesar howitzers.

The report raises questions about whether the public partnership has been accompanied by deeper military cooperation.

Macron embarked on a official visit to Armenia on May 5. According to ADS-B tracking data cited in the material, a French Air Force Airbus A330-200 arrived in Yerevan on May 4. The aircraft flew from Yerevan to Paris the following day and then onward to the Istres-Le Tubé airbase in France. While the movements are confirmed, the nature of the cargo remains undisclosed: "This raises the question of whether the flight was used solely for official transport purposes or whether it formed part of a broader chain of military support."

In addition, the same aircraft was previously tracked in the vicinity of Japan and South Korea between March 29 and April 3. During that period, the defense ministers of France and Japan signed a roadmap for defense cooperation in Japan, while on April 3 in South Korea, President Emmanuel Macron and President Lee Jae-myung agreed to deepen cooperation, including in the fields of defense and energy. Thus, the aircraft's movements are once again visible, although no information is available regarding the specific cargo being transported.

Particular attention in the report is also given to the French military transport aircraft A400M. According to tracking data from May 11, it was heading toward the South Caucasus.

It is claimed that the cargo on this route was declared for Georgia as gas cylinders, lithium batteries, and chemical substances. However, questions have been raised as to whether the actual cargo corresponded to the declared description, or whether it could have involved components for Caesar howitzers or other military-related equipment.

The video notes that this issue became particularly relevant after French Caesar artillery systems appeared in footage from Yerevan as part of preparations for the upcoming May 28 parade. Thus, the issue concerns not only Macron's visit, but also what was transported during this visit, what cargo was declared for Georgia, what permissions were issued, and whether the cargo complied with the legal status of the flight.

According to the 1944 Chicago Convention, civilian and military aircraft are governed by different legal regimes. In this context, transporting military cargo under a different declaration may raise questions regarding airspace authorization, transit permissions, and compliance with civil aviation rules.

At the same time, the report states that the information regarding the cargo has not yet been definitively confirmed: "Public data confirms the partnership, flight data confirms movements, and video footage confirms the presence of Caesar systems in Armenia. However, information about the cargo still requires verification. Until the A400M manifest, Georgia's transit authorization, ICAO compliance documents, and independent confirmations are published, the issue remains open. The allegations have not been proven, but the situation appears serious enough to warrant answers."

Of course, responses - primarily from Paris or Yerevan - could clarify the situation. However, there have been none so far. Therefore, based on the available materials, it can be stated that the military aircraft was transporting weapons and other military cargo to Armenia.

Moreover, given the lack of transparency over these flights, namely the absence of official statements about the nature of the cargo, all this only increases suspicions that secret military supplies were being delivered from France to Armenia.

France may have delivered military cargo to Armenia in violation of Chicago Convention