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Anti-Russian sanctions

Authorities of Western Europe countries hamper Russian civilian weapon supplies

Several European countries refuse to issue export licenses to weapon producers or complicate the licensing process out of political considerations

© EPA/DANIEL KARMANN

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G7 threatens further sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

OSCOW, June 25. /ITAR-TASS/. Import of civilian small arms to Russia has gone down sharply since March 2014. This tendency is connected with the policy of several European countries that refuse to issue export licenses to weapon producers or complicate the licensing process out of political considerations, Izvestia daily reported on Wednesday.

Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic and Belgium, which are considered as the main suppliers of hunting rifles to Russia, were named among countries which imposed such sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.

The Belgian Foreign Ministry told the daily that several regions of that country, including Flanders and Wallonia, introduced temporary restrictions on weapon supplies to Russia. Meanwhile, German Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) admitted that “due to current political situation” the agency did not issue licenses for export of weapons and military outfit to Russia. Italy did not introduce a ban on export, but the deputy director of the local hunting rifle producer Zoli confirmed that Italian arms makers would receive export licenses with delays.

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