FEDERAL SERVICE FOR MILITARY-TECHNICAL COOPERATION

Press release

5 April 2023

The statement of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC of Russia) to the media

The statement of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation
(FSMTC of Russia) to the media

 

         According to reports published in the media, state-owned companies of
the Republic of Bulgaria («Avionams», «Terem-Letets») and the Czech Republic («LOM PRAHA») continue to carry out illegitimate activities on repair and modernization of Russian (Soviet) origin combat helicopters, including for their further transfer to Ukraine.

         In 2022, after the unfriendly steps of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, the Russian Federation suspended the validity of the certificates for aircraft repair enterprises, previously issued to the mentioned companies, and they are deprived of the right to carry out maintenance and repair of Russian brands helicopters.

         Please note that the Russian Party is not responsible for the safe operation of helicopters which maintenance was carried out by these companies without participation of the Russian manufacturers and developer.

         We also declare that the mentioned countries by their actions violate
the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and
the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on organization of repair of Mi-17 (Mi-8), Mi-35 (Mi-24) types  helicopters and their modernization in the Republic of Bulgaria dated March 9, 2012, as well as the Agreement between
the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Czech Republic on organization of repair of Mi-24 (Mi-35), Mi-171Sh (Mi-8, Mi-17) types helicopters and their modernization in the Czech Republic dated April 27, 2012.

         These intergovernmental Agreements stipulate the obligations of both
the Republic of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic «neither sell nor transfer
to a third party the property, documentation and information received within
the present Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Russian Party»,
as well as «nor modernize the helicopters without the participation of helicopters manufacturers and developer».

         The mentioned activities of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic are a gross violation of international obligations and cause significant damage
to the global export control system.