US allows Azov to use American weapons after years-long ban
Joe Biden's administration has allowed Ukraine's Azov Brigade to use American weapons, reversing a years-old ban, The Washington Post reports with reference to the U.S. State Department.
Now Azov, which has been part of the National Guard since 2015, will have access to the same US military assistance as any other unit.
"After thorough review, Ukraine’s 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade passed The “Leahy Laws” prohibit U.S. assistance to foreign security force units when there is credible information that the unit has committed a “gross violation of human rights” (GVHR). Leahy vetting as carried out by the U.S. Department of State," the State Department said, adding that it did not find any evidence of human rights violations by the brigade.
About 10 years ago, Azov was banned from using American weapons because US officials believed that some of its founders held racist, xenophobic and ultra-nationalist views, and UN human rights defenders accused the brigade of violating humanitarian norms.
Lifting the ban has been a priority for Ukrainian officials, who say the brigade could have been more effective in defending Azovstal in 2022 if it had access to American equipment. Members of the brigade were also prohibited from attending training organized by the American military.
The commander of the "Azov" brigade, Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, called for the repeal of the amendments to the U.S. legislation that prohibit the transfer of Western weapons to his military unit. In his opinion, they were adopted based on the characteristics of Azov from Western media under the influence of Russian propaganda.
Petitions on the website of the President of Ukraine with the demand to hold negotiations with the United States regarding the cancellation of restrictions on the provision of weapons for the 12th brigade of the National Guard Azov twice received the necessary votes.