According to a statement released last week by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Russia will continue to supply weapons to Azerbaijan and Armenia in accordance with the contracts, as both republics are strategic partners of Russia. Later, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Moscow is taking into account the need to maintain a balance of power in the region by delivering military supplies to both Baku and Yerevan.
Both countries have long-standing relations with Russia in a military sphere, however, the balance that Russia’s leadership hopes to maintain today, was achieved only recently during the last decade due to the strengthening of Russian-Azerbaijani relations in this sphere. As a result, today Azerbaijan is Russia’s largest partner in the CIS in the arms market: the total amount of contracts is estimated at some $4 billion.
Russian Uralvagonzavod and other defense companies supply the following Military Engineering equipment to Baku: heavy mechanized bridges TMM-6, armored vehicle launched bridges MTU-90M, blocking vehicles IMR-3M, armored recovery vehicles BREM-1M, optical-electronic suppression systems "Shtora".
At the same time Russia also supplies weapons to Armenia and unlike Baku, Yerevan does not always have to pay for the Russian arms deliveries right away. The latest example is the February preferential loan in the amount of $200 million with a 3% interest rate (tax-exempt), which was allocated by Moscow. Now Armenia could purchase Russian military products within the framework of agreements on military and technical cooperation in 2003 and 2013.
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Armenia received tanks T-54, T-55 and T-72, several armored personnel carriers, and over a hundred BTR-80 armored vehicles, artillery systems, D-20, D-30, self-propelled howitzers 2S3 "Akatsiya", ‘Gvozdika’ and ‘Giatsinty’. The extent of this support for the Armenian Armed Forces became known only in the late 90's after the Rokhlin affair.
An investigation by the Duma Defense Committee then headed by General Lev Rokhlin, showed that arms sales to Armenia totaling $1 billion were made illegally without any intergovernmental treaties, i.e. the majority of the supplies were recorded as commercial transactions.
After the investigation Armenia decided to keep from making public information on its weapons and related purchases. Nevertheless, the Armenian mass media learned about tactical missiles "Tochka-U", missile systems Iskander, air defense systems "Strela-10", ZU-23, air defense system ‘’Osa''. In addition, since 2000, Russia has provided Armenia other military assistance. For example, Russia let Armenia use its equipped firing ranges with instructors, to conduct military target practice and exercises.
The above-mentioned facts clearly demonstrate that Moscow is indeed keeping its word and is maintaining today the balance of arms supplies between Baku and Yerevan.
