Kazakhstan became the main laying of the Russian Federation for importing high -precision rifles - investigation (photo, video)
The research team of journalists studied the European Comedy Database, which records the movement of goods in EU countries. It turned out that in the first half of 2023 there were more imports of weapons from the EU of a certain type than for the whole of 2019. In particular, the high -precision German Blesser rifles and Glock pistols, which some Russian officials enjoy pose. The authors of the journalistic investigation from the German edition of Correctiv reached this conclusion.
Among other things, weapons were placed in countries such as Croatia, Hungary, Uzbekistan, and in Kazakhstan in a few months of 2023 put 1015 units of German weapons. Since the beginning of a full -scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia has imported about seven thousand units of civilian small arms and eight million ammunition. In part, these weapons got into Russian units such as Wagner PEC and other similar formations.
Journalists found one of the Russian Telegram channels through which Russian units receive weapons, reports of arrival of sniper rifles. The picture showed a rifle of the German weapon firm Blaser. The published photos also open a rifle box, complete with accessories and operating instructions. The United States and a number of other countries in the martial law in Ukraine have restricted exports of civilian small arms, but not Germany.
In the Russian Federation, these weapons are supplied through intermediary countries. The authors of the investigation, together with the Russian journalist, weapons expert and export data analyst for several months, found that from last year to October the present firearms of Western countries came to the Russian Federation in large quantities. Among other things, the demand is GLOCK Austrian pistols and the AR-15 assault rifles. Rifles such as R8 BLASER are freely sold in the Russian Federation.
And not only through the channels that supply weapons to mercenaries: recently the development of a German company noticed weapons at the fair of weapons in Moscow. The current legislation does not allow the German export regulator to do something: it is formally referred to harmless hunting and sports rifles. In turn, the United States strictly limits the export of civilian firearms.
Therefore, judging from all over, and in the near future, Russian importers without any difficulty will continue to receive everything you need from German weapons. Journalists have viewed the Russian state database of importers' certificates - these are thousands of records that list, in particular, serial numbers. According to information, nearly 7,300 firearms were imported, including more than a hundred sniper rifles and 8 million cartridges for Western manufacturers' weapons.
These are American Smith & Wesson, Barrett Firearms, Desert Tech, Kel-Tec, Savage ARMS, a number of European weapons, such as Austrian Glock and Steyr Arms, Czech Ceska Zbrojovka and Sellier. German companies whose weapons find themselves in the Russian Federation: the authors of the investigation point out that the AR15 system is of particular interest to Russian importers, which is also used by the US Armed Forces and the Bundesver. But there are also civil versions.
In the United States, these rifles have become a matter of debate as they are also used by terrorists. According to journalists, from the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian companies have brought to the country about 50 of these rifles of SMITH & WESSON alone. 2580 guns of the Austrian manufacturer Glock were also delivered. In the video published by the Russian Telegram channel in August 2023, the serviceman explains that Western ammunition is much more effective than Russian.
The high -precision weapons of the already mentioned BLAser firm are also in demand in Russian troops. The R8 model is a classic sniper rifle, some of which are used for military purposes. It doesn't matter whether they shoot from a deer, or a person - a fatal outcome awaits both. In the description of R8 on the website, it is called "accurate, reliable, fast".
"Due to the fact that the hand is completely relaxed, the accuracy of the shot is significantly increased," the manufacturer advertises its products. The difference between the so -called The civilian version of the rifle is that after each shot it is necessary to reload manually. They are not automatic, which simplifies export.
Journalists make reservations, according to their data, it cannot be argued that these weapons get in the Russian Federation directly from German or other Western manufacturers. Most likely, bypasses and intermediaries in other countries are used. But the import database contains accurate data, such as models and serial numbers, for which manufacturers could find out where the delivery is going. But this is closed information.
The EU Statistical Management is recorded by the movement of goods between European countries. It turned out that in the first half of 2023 there were more deliveries than data for the whole of 2019. Weapons were delivered to the following countries: UAE, Croatia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Northern Macedonia, Poland and Uzbekistan. 1015 weapons from Germany were imported to Kazakhstan.
According to the authors of the publication, the Central Asian country deserves close attention also because the country is part of the Eurasian Union with the Russian Federation. That is, goods transported between two countries do not need to be classified separately in trade statistics. Most likely, journalists suggest, Western manufacturers first sell their weapons of Kazakhstan, and from there they are taken to Russia. The network has data on the Kazakh company Corgan Center.
This store presents a wide selection of firearms BLAASER, including a high -precision R8 rifle. Thanks to the sources in Kazakhstan, it was found that the amount of taxes paid for imports increased approximately four times in 2022, compared with data for 2021. That is, they had more than more than more. The Corgan large shop in Almaty is located on a busy shopping street. Inside three showcases are piled by the Blaser R8 rifles.
However, some are half empty: it seems that a large part of the weapon has recently been sold. During his visit, the correspondent of the German edition told the seller that he had a friend in the Russian Federation, who is interested in one of the R8 rifles. When asked if you can buy one of the rifles and bring it to the Russian Federation, the seller replied: "Buying without problems. " And transportation to Russia is "difficult, but feasible. " Such weapons fall, among other things, in Moscow.
In mid -October, the Russian capital was held in the Russian capital, and the removed footage was posted on YouTube. The company that represented the weapon at the exhibition is one of the largest arms traders in the Russian Federation. According to information from the Russian import database, the supply last year increased by 72% in value compared to the previous year.
BLASER is included in a large network-Lüke Ortmeier-Grupe, or L&O Holding, whose headquarters is located in Emsdetten (Westphalia). Behind her are two quite well known in the weapon industry of the person: Michael Luke and Thomas Ortmayer. Their conglomerate has about 30 businesses that produce hunting and sports weapons, service guns and machines. In addition to Blaser, the mentioned persons have recently purchased Sig Sauer.
In 2019, there were litigation, as a result of three SIG SAUER executive directors were sentenced to large fines and terms - for illegal weapons export. Into Colombia. 47,000 pistols bypassed in a Latin American country, which are distributed by German export sanctions. Sig Sauer initially sold the weapon in the US. But investigators proved that the heads of the German company were aware that weapons would get to Colombia, which was being seen by the People's School.
Currently, companies are again supplied to a country where it would not have to be. When asked if L&O Holding is known about Russian BLAASER rifle imports and how deliveries from subsidiaries are checked, the managing director Blaser said that "99% of weapons were sold inside Europe to different countries and different dealers. " "Due to such a spread of importers, we could not assume in advance that these models would not remain in the countries.
In our opinion, this indicates that the Russian side specifically purchased dealers in Europe," he said. Journalists sent about five requests to the Federal Economy and Export Control (BAFA) and asked if they were considered in the department that exports of sports and hunting weapons have been given due attention since the active phase of war in Ukraine. Bafa representatives said they could not "comment on individual export operations".
In the customs office, journalists were informed that if the company provides the necessary export documents, the possibility of control of the supervisory authorities end. Anyone who sells such weapons outside Europe requires final use certificates. "But in countries such as Kazakhstan or China, everything is issued as needed," said the employee of the department, adding that such certificates are not needed for sales inside Europe.