Russian blow to arms procurements probe
The parliamentary committee investigating controversial arms procurements by the previous Socialist government was informed yesterday that the Russian government has refused to provide crucial data regarding one of the deals. Committee chairman Ioannis Tragakis told MPs participating in the investigation that Russia’s Justice Ministry has gone back on an initial pledge to send Greece 93 files regarding the purchase of Russian TOR M1 air-defense missile systems. The explanation for this refusal was that Russian authorities are still involved in an investigation of their own into certain aspects of the deal. Between November 2 and last Friday, the committee interviewed a series of witnesses on Greece’s purchase of the TOR M1s, as well as the US TPQ radars. Its findings are due to be published on January 14.
