Russian Arms Sales Indicate "Troubling Pattern" of Supporting Despotic Regimes

Press Release

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) said Russia's continued arms sales to Syria, as well as its support of anti-democratic regimes in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, represent a "troubling pattern." During exchanges with combatant commanders, Senator Ayotte again expressed outrage at Russia's ongoing support of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria despite mounting international condemnation in the face of thousands of civilian deaths.

During the hearing, Senator Ayotte said she agreed with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's comments yesterday that Russia was "standing silent" as Assad kills Syrian civilians, but noted that she would go a step further: "If you know someone is killing someone and committing murder like the Assad regime is doing with their own people, and you knowingly provide them with arms, you're not just standing silent, you are actually an accomplice to those killings."

Senator Ayotte also referenced yesterday's letter to Secretary Panetta that she helped lead with Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Kirstin Gillibrand (D-NY), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) calling on the Pentagon to end its business relationship with Russian arms dealer Rosoboronexport, which continues to provide arms to the Assad regime in Syria.

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