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MP suggests assessing top military’s statements on poor quality of weapons

The MP said he would forward the relevant request to Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov

MOSCOW, February 18 (Itar-Tass) —— First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Industry Vladimir Gutenev called for assessing some top army officers’ statements about the poor quality of Russian military hardware and equipment.

The MP said he would forward the relevant request to Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

Sergei Chemezov, Director-General of the Russian Technologies state corporation, said such demarches may upset some promising international contracts.

Chemezov said he has recently talked with the Kazakhstani defence minister who regretted that such statements in Moscow would make it hard for him to consider purchasing military hardware in Russia.

“I think we should ask the leadership of Russia to solve this problem,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the defence industry, has assumed a restrained position on the matter. “The complaints from the Defence Ministry should be taken very seriously. Especially, since this concerns the lives of our military personnel,” he said.