DeLauro Pleased With Long-Overdue Sanctions against Russian State Arms Dealers

NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on the State Department’s decision to sanction the Russian state arms export agency Rosoboronexport and four other Russian defense industry entities for violations of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).

“I welcome the State Department’s decision to sanction Rosoboronexport. I have long called for the Department of Defense to stop doing business with this entity. In defiance of these calls, between 2011 and 2014 the DOD awarded Rosoboronexport more than $1 billion in no-bid contracts to supply 63 Russian helicopters for the Afghan National Security Forces.

“Our government must stop filling the pockets of Russian arms dealers. It should instead support American jobs by allowing U.S. companies to compete for these contracts. Today’s announcement means that the Pentagon will finally have to end its relationship with Rosoboronexport and the other entities sanctioned once and for all. That is good news for American businesses and workers, and for our country’s standing in the world.”

DeLauro has led congressional opposition to American contracts with Rosoboronexport since 2009. That opposition led the Pentagon to cancel a planned purchase of helicopters from the agency. In June, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016, authored by DeLauro, which strengthens the ban on DOD contracts with Rosoboronexport.


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