US lifts ban on weapon supply to Azov

US President Joe Biden's administration has lifted the ban on supplying weapons to the 12th Special Purpose Brigade Azov of the Ukrainian National Guard.

Source: The Washington Post with reference to the US Department of State

Quote from US Department of State: "After thorough review, Ukraine’s 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade passed Leahy vetting as carried out by the US Department of State."

Details: The State Department was referring to the Leahy Law, which prohibits providing US military assistance to foreign units that have committed serious human rights violations based on credible information. This law is named after former Senator Patrick Leahy, who authored it.

A statement said the State Department found "no evidence" of such violations. 

A spokesperson declined to specify when the ban was lifted or whether US-supplied weapons have already been delivered to Azov.

The Azov Brigade, which was a volunteer force and integrated into the National Guard of Ukraine in 2015, will now have access to the same US military assistance as any other unit.

The Washington Post noted that Azov was banned from using US-supplied weapons about ten years ago because US officials believed some of its founders allegedly held racist, xenophobic and ultranationalist views. In addition, UN human rights officials accused the brigade of violating humanitarian law.

Read also the opinion column by Azov Brigade Commander Denys Prokopenko: Why does Azov still not receive Western weapons?

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