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22 May, 2010 11:34

US lifts sanctions against Russian arms makers

The US has lifted sanctions against four Russian organizations it had accused of violating the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The economic penalties were introduced by the previous US administration over the alleged sales of weapons of mass destruction and sensitive missile technology to Iran, North Korea and Syria.

Moscow repeatedly denied the allegations, describing the move as an attempt to cut off suppliers.

The ban has been lifted from Russia’s leading arms seller Rosoboronexport, Instrument Development Laboratory from Tula, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia and Moscow Aviation Institute.

The decision of American government concerning Russian arms makers came into force on May 21.

According to the director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technology, Ruslan Pukhov, the US move is symbolic and might have a serious impact on Russia’s image for foreign clients.

”It probably sounds somehow paradoxical, but when these sanctions were imposed it meant for our clients, especially in the third world, that we are resisting US pressure. That is why we were punished, and it was fostering the reputation of Russia as a reliable partner as far as arms transfers are concerned,” he pointed.

“Now when Russia yields [to] this seduction to believe the United States and decided to follow Washington line in the context of Iranian dossier, Americans lifted these sanctions as a kind of sign that Russia is not ‘bad guy’ any more, and I think that it will paradoxically have a negative impact on Russia reputation in the Third World,” Pukhov added.


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