Russia sold battalions of S-300 air defense missile systems to Azerbaijan?July 29, 2010 - 16:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - In 2009, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry signed an agreement with Rosoboronexport, the Russian state-controlled arms exporter, for delivery of two battalions of S-300 PMU2 (Favorit) air defense missile systems. A top manager of a Russian defense plant producing components for the system said, Russian Vedomosti paper reported. According to the manager, the agreement's fulfillment has started and it can be completed within two years. Meanwhile, a Rosoboronexport official has refused to comment on the report and Azerbaijani President’s spokesman Azer Kasymov said he has no information on the issue. However, deputy spokesman of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry Teymur Abdullaev said in his comments that “Azerbaijan is systematically strengthening its army and will continue taking actions to this end,” 1news.az reported. Azerbaijani authorities report that they have already resettled 3,000 people in the Nagorno-Karabakh town of Stepanakert. On June 10, Azerbaijani President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will leave for Turkey on a working visit. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. Partner news |