Politics
Russian Ground Forces lose out in modernization plans
Reading Time: 4 minutes Reflecting the weaknesses of the domestic industry to supply a range of products to the Russian armed forces, the shopping list for a foreign spending spree appears to be growing.
By Roger McDermott
The modernization of the Russian armed forces, as currently planned for the next decade, appears to squeeze resources for re-equipping the Ground Forces. An article in the defense ministry’s official publication, Krasnaya Zvezda, unsurprisingly confirmed that modernizing the strategic nuclear arsenal will take the lions’ share of the defense budget, however, the order of priority places air defense and space troops as well as the air force and navy ahead of the ground forces. Moreover, more broadly, Russia will increasingly purchase arms abroad, though this is unlikely to solve the problems facing plans to modernize the weapons and equipment inventory (Krasnaya Zvezda, December 29, 2010).
Reflecting the weaknesses of the domestic industry to supply a range of products to the Russian armed forces, the shopping list for a foreign spending spree appears to be growing. However, this not only provides evidence about the condition of the defense industry, it equally exposes planning weaknesses. On November 25, 2010 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited the Gorokhovets training range in Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast, observing tactical Ground Forces’ exercises, testing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and inspecting an autonomous field camp. Partly designed to promote the image of the ongoing military reform, Medvedev took particular interest in new field tents, imported from Germany. Learning that the heating system, kitchen equipment and even the bio-toilets were also imported, the Russian president lamented: “You would think we could make something ourselves.” Defense Minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov, no doubt tongue-in-cheek, assured his commander-in-chief that the blankets were Russian (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, November 30). Medvedev’s frustration with the lack of domestically produced items highlights the defense ministry’s appetite for buying abroad. However, it is unclear whether the defense ministry is accurately reporting on either the progress of the reform to the Kremlin or indeed on critical issues relating to defense procurement.
For example, no one informed Medvedev that the German field tents were not designed to withstand the extreme sub-zero temperatures of the Russian winter. Approximately one year earlier, the same German field tents were pitched in Gorokhovets in temperatures slightly above freezing, within a few days after a drop to minus twenty, efforts to fold the tents resulted in cracks appearing and they began falling apart. Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye’s correspondent, Oleg Vladykin, reportedly witnessed a revealing conversation at Gorokhovets on November 25, 2010 between a representative from a domestic defense company that produces similar products, asking Margarita Andreyeva, the Chief of the defense ministry’s State Order Directorate: “Do you know that German tents are designed for a temperature of no lower than minus 17?” Andreyeva replied: “Yes, I know, but we bought them already” (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, November 30, 2010).
Puzzling features of this procurement policy are equally apparent in the more potentially serious problems facing the equipping of the Ground Forces with automated command and control systems. Problems in this sphere are also victim to competing efforts to either pressure the domestic defense industry or to purchase abroad, not least in the acquisition of UAV’s. The 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade at Alabino, near Moscow, has continued testing the tactical-level single command and control system (Yedinaya Sistema Upravleniya v Takticheskom Zvene –YeSU TZ). Pictures from UAV’s have shuddered, problems were experienced with coordinates and targets that should be fixed reportedly “moved” on the screen. Nonetheless, defense industry specialists noted the same problems would emerge using foreign purchased UAV’s as the fault lies in the software for the YeSU TZ (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, November 30, 2010).
Publicity surrounding the YeSU TZ, referred to by one brigade commander as the “eighth wonder of the World,” has been largely positive. Nevertheless, claims by the top brass that the Ground Forces will have fully automated command and control systems by 2012, or that by 2015 such a system will be the best in the World, should be regarded with caution. This innovation faces technical, planning and financial constraints, not least in reference to computers produced for the military costing up to twice as much as for the civilian market. It also faces the bureaucratic hurdle of coordinating design improvements between the defense ministry, General Staff and the domestic defense industry (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, November 19, 2010).
The Mistral contract with the French company DCNS (2 billion Euros) has been the highest profile example of Moscow procuring military hardware abroad. Yet, a deeper pattern has emerged abandoning the traditionally self-referencing approach to procurement. Examples include: armored vehicles from the Italian IVECO (250 million Euros), Israeli BirdEye, MK 150, MKII UAV’s ($53 million), 5,000 British sniper rifles ($5 million), and undisclosed sums spent on the French SIGMA-95 navigation system for MiG-29’s, FELIN infantry combat gear, as well as Thales thermal imagers for T-90 tanks, German mountaineering equipment for two Mountain Rifle Brigades in the North Caucasus (Trud, November 30). Since procuring the Israeli UAV’s, only 50 Russian specialists have been trained to maintain the light platforms (Argumenty Nedeli, December 8, 2010).
Konstantin Makienko, the Deputy Director of the Moscow-based Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), believes foreign purchases will become a regular practice. “With the exclusion of our domestic shipbuilding sector from the order for a universal amphibious assault ship, it has become absolutely clear that in the future the national defense industry is ceasing to be the exclusive supplier for the Russian armed forces,” Makienko asserted. However, these foreign purchases are likely to be limited in scope, and will not provide a viable alternative to domestic procurement, while some analysts see dangers in buying weapons and equipment abroad, pointing to a potential embargo during a future crisis. Makienko considers this risk can be managed by focusing on buying from France, Italy and Israel, partners which he characterizes as conforming to the principle of “maximum de-politicization” (Trud, November 30).
The Russian Ground Forces appear to be receiving only small numbers of main battle tanks and artillery, perhaps indicating a shift in the approach towards modern combat. However, given the level of secrecy in the defense budget and lack of scrutiny and accountability this is difficult to establish with any degree of accuracy. Yet, the lowly status of the Ground forces in the pecking order suggests they will only receive the leftovers after the feeding frenzy by other arms and branches of service.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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