The United States imposed sanctions against three Russian enterprises. A statement by the US State Department alleges that this is due to a "violation" of the United States ban on the supply of goods, technologies or services related to weapons of mass destruction to Iran, North Korea or Syria.
The sanctioned lists included the Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering (KBP), the Scientific and Production Association of Mechanical Engineering (NPOM), and the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (KumAPP).
Restrictions include a ban on the purchase by any American ministry or agency of goods or services from these enterprises, and the import of their products into the United States is prohibited. They also apply to organizational units and subsidiaries.
These sanctions will be valid for two years, but can be lifted by decision of the Secretary of State. This post is currently held by Mike Pompeo.
The restrictions apply to extraterritorial, as they are imposed in accordance with American law in relation to individuals and legal entities that are not under the jurisdiction of the United States and operating outside it. Russia has repeatedly opposed such a policy.
At the same time, the US State Department’s explanation that these enterprises are allegedly involved in the proliferation of mass weapons technologies is just an excuse for imposing sanctions, Anton Morozov, member of the State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs, is convinced.
“These pretexts for sanctions are not even negotiable. Russia has never been implicated in anything like that. All this belongs to the category of fake accusations, to which we are already accustomed, ”he told RT.
Sanctioned Companies
Kumertau Aviation Enterprise is part of the Russian Helicopters holding. Until recently, he was engaged in the production and repair of helicopters such as Ka-226 (multipurpose), Ka-27 (ship anti-submarine), Ka-31 (helicopter radar patrol) and Ka-32 (medium transport). Last year, the holding decided to transfer production to other enterprises. KumAPP is also engaged in the production of components for aircraft.
- Archival photo of the assembly shop of FSUE Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise
- RIA News
- © Mikhail Fomichev
NPO Mashinostroyeniya is one of the leading Russian space and rocket enterprises. In addition to him, in the Russian Federation only RSC Energia is engaged in a full range of rocket and space technology. NPOM developed and commissioned more than 25 missile and space-rocket complexes for various purposes.
The Instrument Design Bureau is also considered one of the largest in the Russian defense industry. The Tula-based design bureau is developing high-precision guided weapons for the ground forces, navy and aviation, as well as air defense systems, rapid-fire guns, and military small arms.
“As the lead developer of sophisticated weapons, KBP coordinates the work of a large number of enterprises and organizations, including the institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Russian Federation, and forms the ideology and prospects for the development of many types of weapons on a national scale,” the website of the design bureau says.
By imposing sanctions against these enterprises, the United States intends to block their opportunities in foreign arms markets, says Dmitry Solonnikov, director of the Institute for Contemporary State Development, political analyst.
“The task of the United States now is to block the growth of the Russian defense industry, to close the way for Russian products to international markets, to gain a non-market competitive advantage there. They use their dominance in financial and legal international institutions and thus manipulate the supply and demand struggle, ”he told RT.
The US sanctions policy is connected with Washington’s dissatisfaction with Moscow’s policy, said Gevorg Mirzayan, assistant professor of political science at the Financial University under the Russian government.
“The United States is trying to impose sanctions because Russia does not meet American expectations. You do not have to pay attention to this. The United States is trying to “explain” who is actually to blame for the fact that their policy towards Iran and the DPRK did not lead to results - Russia is allegedly to blame. We are well aware that the United States will impose sanctions against us for any reason, ”he said in an interview with RT.