Congressmen Urge Obama to Deny Russian Cameras for Open Skies Flights

The US government should decline Russia’s request to use upgraded optical sensors to conduct Open Skies Treaty surveillance flights over the United States, three US congressmen said in a letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The letter, signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes and Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, accused Russia of using flights conducted under the Open Skies Treaty to expand its espionage capabilities.

"We urge you to heed the advice of senior military personnel and other officials and reject this Russian request while examining modern alternatives to these flights," the letter stated.

Earlier this year, Russia announced it would submit a request to the Open Skies Consultative Commission, a board comprised of all 34 parties to the Open Skies Treaty, to use high-definition optical sensors in its surveillance and reconnaissance flights.

The 2002 Open Skies Treaty allows the United States, Russia and 32 other treaty partners to observe each other’s military and civilian installations under rules that limit the resolution of imaging equipment.