Delegates Urged To Pack Up And Go Home

Russia normally has a major presence at the Farnborough Air Show held every-other year in Britain, including military hardware and commercial aircraft.

Not so much this year. There is no military hardware on display, a Sukhoi Superjet model sits under a plastic sheet, and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister has reportedly told Russian delegates to the show to head east.

The show has been put in the middle of the tensions between Russia and western countries over events in Ukraine. Reuters reports that Britain did not invite any Russian officials to the air show, and organizers said that nearly 100 delegates were denied British visas. One western source told Reuters that the idea was "to avoid looking like business as usual with Russia" given what has happened in Ukraine.

The only Russian airplanes on display at Farnborough this week are two Sukhoi Superjet airliners. On Monday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin posted on Twitter that "I recommend our delegation roll up participation in the show and return home."

(Sukhoi Superjet pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/main_eng