"Ending “business as usual” with Rosobronexport", 1 November 2016

In June 2013 Human Rights First issued a blueprint calling on the United States to stop doing business with Russian state-owned arms dealer Rosoboronexport because the company—which the U.S. government contracted with to provide Afghanistan National Security Forces with Mi-17 helicopters—was supplying the Assad regime with weapons it then used to murder Syrian civilians. We advocated for clear legislation forbidding contracts with the arms exporter, and called on the Department of Defense (DoD) to find viable alternatives to the Russian supplied weapons to guarantee Afghanistan’s security needs. Three years have gone by, and it is perplexing that the recommendations we made have still not been implemented. Despite growing concerns from human rights organizations and Congress, the sanctions imposed on Rosoboronexport have not prevented the Pentagon from pursuing its dealings with the arms exporter, using national security waivers and amendments to bypass the existing restrictions.