How the collapse of communism in East Europe widened illegal arms trade

Since the 'collapse of communism', a number of former Warsaw Pact states in Central and Eastern Europe as well as former Soviet republics such as Belarus and Ukraine have gained a reputation for becoming clearing houses for surplus arms and munitions.

Quantities of such arms and munitions often find their way to conflict-ridden states in Africa and Asia that are subject to various Western embargoes.
It is no secret that Ukraine under the former administration of Leonid Kuchma was more than active in the illicit arms trade. One need look no further than the investigations currently underway in which the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's office is examining illegal sales of Kh-55/AS-15 cruise missiles to China and Iran in 2001.

It is alleged that Ukraine sold arms to any state or non-state actors who expressed a willingness to pay in hard currency. Apart from surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile technology, Ukraine also exported much more inconspicuous, and for that reason perhaps even more dangerous Strela and Igla man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS); or shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems of Russian design to a number of foreign clients. These are particularly dangerous since they could be used by terrorist groups to attack commercial airliners.

Ukraine also exported tanks, armoured vehicles, radar technology as well as small arms and ammunition.

To the north, neighbouring Belarus has also exported a variety of weapons systems, including armoured vehicles, as well components for radar and missile systems. The country has over the years developed a competent electronics industry base, including an impressive computer science capability that supplied everything from 'white goods' such as refrigerators for the civilian market to ballistic missile components and radar software to the former Soviet armed forces.

Belarusian analysts have alleged that the country has supplied advanced weapons, such as SAM systems and air-defence radars, to a number of African states under UN and other Western embargoes, as well as military 'advisers' to man and operate them. Allegations show that Belarus has been used by Russia and Ukraine for the final assembly and export of various weapons systems that could not otherwise pass Western scrutiny if exported from their countries of origin.

More disturbing is the fact that countries outside the former Soviet Union, who were once part of the Warsaw Pact, continue to quietly sell arms and ammunition despite joining Western institutions such as NATO and the European Union (EU). Countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania have often been implicated in arms scandals involving shipments of illicit arms and ammunition to warring countries in the developing world.