The Washington Post: The United States has lifted the ban on the supply of weapons to the special forces brigade "Azov"

The administration of US President Joe Biden has lifted the ban on the supply of weapons to the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” of the National Guard of Ukraine.

The Washington Post, quoting A message from the US State Department writes:

“After careful review, the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov has passed Leahy's review by the U.S. State Department.”

The State Department meant The Leahy Act, which prohibits US military assistance to foreign units known to have committed serious human rights violations. It is named after former Senator Patrick Leahy, who wrote the legislation.

The department said in a statement that the audit found “no evidence” of such violations. A State Department spokesman declined to say when the ban was lifted or whether American weapons had already reached Azov.

Now the Azov Brigade, a once volunteer formation that became part of the National Guard of Ukraine in 2015, will have access to the same military assistance from the United States as any other unit.

The publication notes that about a decade ago, Azov was banned from using American weapons because US officials decided that some of its founders allegedly espoused racist, xenophobic and ultra-nationalist views, and UN human rights officials accused the group of violating humanitarian law.

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