In line with the agreement, the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization)-member countries acquire Russian weapons at Russia’s domestic prices, CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha told Izvestia daily of Russia.

“There is a [Russian] Government decision which specifies that privileged, Russian domestic prices must be charged for the allies,” he said.  

In response to the query as to which weapons—western or Russian?—the CSTO countries buy the most, the Secretary General noted: “They choose what shoots, moves and flies well.”    

“First, the Russian systems are dominant in the allied countries. The [military] staff is used to operating these weapons. Second, the other CSTO-member states need weapons that are compatible with the weaponry of the Russian Armed Forces,” said Nikolay Bordyuzha.    

And to the question as to how Kazakhstan has acquired American-made jeeps while Armenia has obtained Chinese salvo reactive systems, CSTO Secretary General noted that many weapons’ systems are simply donated to these countries as military aid.