Reuters report: Russian weapons tycoons not facing sanctions

The latest round of sanctions was announced Thursday when the United States imposed new sanctions on several arms producers and leaders in the heart of what is known as the Russian President Vladimir Putin's “-Majerial combat strategy”.

But a Reuters investigation into companies, directors and investors that make up Russia's defence sector shows that a number of players have not paid the price yet: Tens of Russian arms firms and at least 14 defence companies have not been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union or the United Kingdom. Furthermore, sanctions against Russian arms producers and tycoons have been applied unconsistently by NATO allies, with some governments imposing penalties and some not.

Among the tycoons who have not been sanctioned by either of these three authorities is Alan Lushnikov, Calahnikov JSC's biggest shareholder, the original producer of the known weapon, AK-47. Lushnikov owns a 75% stake in the company, according to recent findings by Reuters.

The company itself was sanctioned by the United States in 2014 by the year Russia invaded the Ukrainian province of Crimea. The European Union and the United Kingdom equalled their sanctions against Kalashnikov Concen this year.

Reuters's findings were published as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the West's current sanctions against Russia are insufficient, as Russian troops advance in their attacks on eastern Ukraine. /Periscopi/