Photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Russian authorities have nothing to do with the activities of private military companies (PMCs). However, if countries conclude agreements with them, then there is nothing illegal in that.
After talks with Foreign Minister Mali Abdulai Diop Lavrov, he pointed to the “ nervousness that the French and some other officials & quot; due to reports of the Mali government's plans to seek the services of a private military company from Russia.
Lavrov added that this issue “ falls exclusively within the competence of the legitimate government of Mali. & # 39; & # 39;
Lavrov also called it ,, sucked out of a finger & # 39; & # 39; theme of Russian private security companies in Mali. According to Lavrov, the market for services provided by private military companies was “created and dominated by Western countries long ago.” Among the market leaders PMC Lavrov named the United States and also the United Kingdom, France.
Lavrov had previously said that the Malian authorities had turned to a private military company in Russia. for helping to fight terrorists. The Minister expressed the view that Mali's request was due to the fact that France “ wants to significantly reduce its military contingent & # 39; & # 39;, which “ was supposed to fight terrorists. & # 39; & # 39; The Kremlin said in September that there were no Russian troops in the African country and that there were no official talks on their work. & Nbsp;