Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) Russian Federation announced a gross violation by the government of Slovakia of previously concluded international treaties, regulating the re-export of Russian-made weapons for the supply of MiG-29 aircraft to the Ukrainian army.
The FSMTC statement emphasizes, that in the relevant article of the agreement, concluded between the governments of the Russian Federation and Slovakia in 1997 year, the procedure for re-exporting Russian-made weapons is clearly spelled out.
Each of the parties has no right to sell or transfer weapons to third countries, technical documentation and other materials, received as a result of military-technical cooperation.
The Slovak authorities handed over to the Ukrainian army four of the thirteen MiG-29 fighters in service. The Ministry of Defense of the country promised to send the remaining aircraft in the near future. As compensation, the US authorities promised to supply Slovakia with 12 AH-1Z Viper helicopters.
Former head of state government, leader of the Smer parliamentary party, Robert Fico subsequently stated, that the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine is a gross violation of the norms of the country's constitution and demanded an investigation into this fact. He also added, that earlier the Slovak authorities were not going to buy helicopters from the United States, however, now Bratislava is forced to pay extra for their delivery. Author:Maxim Svetlyshev Photos used:Wikipedia/KarolH
