MOSCOW—A Russian military expert has said that the military equipment being supplied to Armenia by Russia is very similar to the equipment that Baku has already purchased, but warned that disparities in quantity would still be at play.
The Russian daily Izvestia reported on Tuesday that Russia, which has begun deliveries of arms to Yerevan based on a $200 million loan guarantee, will supply the same weapon to Armenia as it has sold to Baku.
Andrey Frolov, the chief editor of the Russian Arms Export magazine, told Izvestia that the new supply of arms to Armenia no doubt will advance the military disparity with Baku, but Azerbaijan still will have the upper hand in the weapons race given its large military budget.
Russia has sold Azerbaijan weapons in excess of $4 billion and has argued that if it did not supply the arms, Azerbaijan would purchase it from other sources. Russia’s arms sales to Azerbaijan has angered Armenia with its leadership expressing tacit dissatisfaction.
Last Thursday, after meeting with President Serzh Sarkisian, Russian president Vladimir Putin told a press conference that Armenia was Russia’s strategic ally in the region that Moscow “always fulfills its obligations.”
Russia is expected also to provide training to Armenian Armed Forces on the use and operation of the equipment.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Artstrun Hovannesyan confirmed the flow of military equipment but did not specify the type of weapons to a timeline for the completion of the delivery.
Izvestia, which is viewed as a pro-Kremlin publication, citing sources with knowledge of the process, reported that Russia and Armenia have not fully agreed on the inventory that is to be purchased with the $200 million loan.
This article was published as Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu was in Yerevan to attend a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization—CSTO—after holding talks with Azerbaijani leaders in Baku on Monday.
While in Baku, Shoigu discussed furthering military cooperation with Baku and pledging to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev that all matters he had discussed with Putin a week before would be carried out.
These reportedly include plans to sign an agreement in September to open a Russian helicopter maintenance center in Baku.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that in 2017, Russia is going to sell one An-124 military transport aircraft to Baku and open an aircraft assembly plant in Azerbaijan, in addition to signing a contract with Baku next February for the supply of at least 10 new Russian MS-21 aircraft, reported Azatutyun.am.
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The minister of Armenia’s finance does have a multi million dollar house in the USA.. No doubt he inherited it?
This is Ike a big clumsy bear rough playing with its prey before devouring it.
This is like a big clumsy bear rough playing with its prey before devouring it.
There should be large-scale demonstrations FOR Artsakh and AGAINST Russian support for Azerbaijan.
These will strengthen Armenia’s position.
A way of pressuring Armenia to cut a deal with Azerbaijan
Russia is joining the club of scumbags Turkey and Azerbaijan
LETS BE CLEAR: Russia is NOT ARMENIA’s pure ally. Never was.. Never ever will be unless Armenia gets itself together first.. The real PROBLEM is the CUREREN POLITICAL THIEF THUG system that steals elections,. steals form it people and crushes any decent or formal protests. I consider them traitors to the Armenian people and race. Recently weren’t 2 high military leaders let go after the 4 day war because they were stealing money for weapons and not procuring them? of course that happened. Its pandemic in Armenia and start from the very TOP.
Yes Raffi, That’s Russia. we always trusted them but they always stabbed us in the back from early 20th century till now.
So if Russia did not exist, Azerbaijan won’t buy weapons from elsewhere? Think smart before commenting. Russia has an economy to support. Armenia is not going to do it. Its a fact. Who are we to Russia for them to give up 4 Bill in weapons sales? It is what it is, live with it. You want more weapons? Stop robbing the Country and pay for it you dumbass politicians. Instead, you rob the Country and on top dive into a 200 mill loan so tomorrow when Russia asks to “****” their “****”, you will do it without refusal.