Rosoboronexport to sue over illegal arms production abroad
27/06/2006 16:59 NIZHNY NOVGOROD, June 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's state-controlled arms exporter will file lawsuits with international arbitration courts over illegal production of Russian small arms and light weapons abroad, the company's general director said Tuesday.
Kalashnikov producer Izhmash has said that Russia accounts for only 10-12% of the million Kalashnikov rifles sold globally every year, with the rest being unlicensed clones. It said there was no single license agreement conforming to international legal norms that specifically protected Russia's intellectual property rights in small arms and light weapons production.
"We have prepared a number of lawsuits at international arbitration courts and will push to stop unlicensed production of our arms and equipment," Rosobornexport's Sergei Chemezov said, adding that, during the Soviet era, east European countries had been given licenses to produce and sell Kalashnikov automatic rifles free of charge.
"Although the terms of all contracts on licensed production [of AK rifles] have now expired, production continues [illegally]. The worst offenders are Bulgaria and Hungary," he said.
According to Rosoboronexport, the Kalashnikov is currently in service in the armed forces of more than 50 countries, and a Kalashnikov assault rifle can be seen in the national coats of arms of six states.
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