Politics
Rearmament declared the main issue in Russian military reform
Reading Time: 4 minutesRearmament declared the main issue in Russian military reform
by Pavel Felgenhauer
A reshuffle of top military personnel was announced this week in Moscow. Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of Armaments, Colonel-General (retired) Vladimir Popovkin (52), was promoted to First Deputy Defense Minister. Russian Defense Minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov, has eight deputies –two of them first deputies. President, Dmitry Medvedev, receiving Popovkin in his official residence in Gorky near Moscow, announced: “You must coordinate rearmament and procurement, and put into practice the new state armament program that is being finalized at present.” Medvedev specifically told Popovkin to beware of defense contractors that “sometimes make mischief” by inflating procurement prices (RIA Novosti, June 22). Popovkin’s promotion “will much enhance his authority” (Kommersant, June 23).
Popovkin replaced Colonel-General, Alexander Kolmakov (54), who was not only ousted, but also sent into early retirement from active service. Together with Kolmakov, commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces, Lieutenant-General Andrei Shvaychenko (55), was replaced by the Chief of Staff of the Strategic Rocket Forces, Lieutenant-General Sergei Karakayev (49). The latter change of command seems to be much less controversial than the replacement of Kolmakov: Shvaychenko is reported to have written a letter of resignation this month after reaching 55 and also proposed his deputy Karakayev as a preferred replacement (Kommersant, June 23).
Kolmakov, the former commander of the airborne forces (Vozdushno Desantnye Voyska –VDV), was appointed First Deputy Defense Minister in 2008. By the fall of 2008, Serdyukov had assembled a team of top generals ready to implement a radical military reform: the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister, Army-General Nikolai Makarov, Popovkin –a rocket general from the Space Troops– and two VDV generals –Kolmakov and former Chechen campaign veteran (accused by human rights organizations of war crimes) Lieutenant-General Vladimir Shamanov. Kolmakov told journalists in June 2008 that the Russian military “had stopped developing,” adding, “the training and equipment of our armed forces is at the level of the 1960’s and 1970’s” (www.mil.ru, June 27, 2008). Kolmakov supervised military training and combat readiness together with Shamanov. In 2008 and 2009 Kolmakov and Shamanov managed the most radical military reorganization in Russia for “200 years,” according to Makarov. Shamanov was directly in charge of disbanding old-time divisions and forming new-style brigades. 200,000 officers and 120,000 praporshiki (warrant officers) were scheduled for discharge from active service. The number of army units was cut from 1,890 to 172. Combat ready brigades were created by dismantling the so-called “cadre” divisions and regiments, partially manned in peacetime. Soviet-era plans of mobilizing millions of reservists were put to rest (EDM, June 11, 2009).
These drastic organizational changes were completed by 2010. Massive resentment in the ranks of the military accompanied the reform, but there were no serious public manifestations of discontent. As a precaution, the elite VDV was protected from any cuts and declared as an example of the new army (EDM, June 11, 2009). As the organizational change was accomplished, Kolmakov and Shamanov were removed. Shamanov was appointed commander of the VDV in 2009 –an important position that removed him from centralized military reform-making. Later in 2009, Shamanov was publicly disgraced and officially reprimanded for attempting to use VDV specialist troops to defend his family business interests against the prosecutor’s office (EDM, September 24, 2009).
Now Kolmakov has been ousted without any official public expression of gratitude. Kolmakov’s downfall was allegedly caused by conflict with Makarov (Vedomosti, June 21). The Main Combat Training Directorate that was subordinate to Kolmakov, is planned to be dismantled and its functions handed over to the General Staff and the staff of the armed services that in turn will be subordinate to the General Staff (Kommersant, June 23).
The promotion of Popovkin underlines a significant change in the priorities of military reform: from reorganization to rearmament. Popovkin has been publicly promoting the notion that Russia needs Western help and technologies to modernize its military that is totally against the old Soviet Cold War doctrine of defense industrial self-sufficiency. In January 2008, Popovkin became the first Russian general to publicly disclose that Russia was widely using foreign electronic components to make military satellites (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, February 1, 2008). In July 2008, Popovkin announced during an arms show in Nizniy Tagil in the Ural region, that a contract had been signed with the French company, Thales, to provide new T-90S tanks with modern night vision infrared TV cameras. Popovkin announced, “Modern military equipment is so complex, we will need foreign know-how, while continuing our own military research” (RIA Novosti, July 9, 2008). This month, Russia began assembly, under license from Thales, of French night-vision TV cameras for tanks and other armor in Vologda, north of Moscow (www.gzt.ru, May 20).
Popovkin has been in charge of negotiating the acquisition of a substantial batch of different types of Israeli-made spy drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), which was the first ever purchase of military hardware from Israel and official procurement of a major weapons system from a Western nation since 1945. This month, at an arms exhibition in Paris, Popovkin confirmed that Moscow is negotiating the joint production of UAV’s with Israel on Russian territory (RIA Novosti, June 14). Reports in Israel indicate that the deal to build a UAV factory in Russia and additional sales of Israeli-made UAV’s could reach $300 to $400 million, but the Israeli authorities are still hesitant to transfer sensitive technologies and Washington has requested clarification (www.haaretz.com, June 13). Popovkin also announced that Russia is negotiating to buy German armor for combat vehicles and technical support for its licensed production (RIA Novosti, June 22). Negotiations are progressing successfully to procure French Mistral-class advanced amphibious assault ships and technology for licensed production (RIA Novosti, June 16). The Mistral may currently be Russia’s largest foreign arms-purchasing deal, but others may follow.
Popovkin’s efforts to dramatically increase the procurement of Western weapons and to buy technology for local production have been opposed by the defense industry and greeted with dismay by the public, accustomed to believing that Russian weapons are always the best in the world. Popovkin’s promotion is a clear sign that he is fully supported by Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, and the policy of modernizing the Russian armed forces with active Western assistance will not waver.
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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