The arms trade directly affects the security of both particular states and the whole world. Armaments supplies can increase tension in the regions of potential disputes and intensify the existing conflicts. That’s why the international community makes efforts to establish effective mechanisms to control the export of different arms. The existing arms export control regimes are intended to make the arms export more transparent and to minimize its negative consequences rather then to ban it. The countries join these regimes on free-will basis.

Considering the export control as a sure way to strengthen confidence and stability in the world Russia participate in the major arms and dual-use goods and technologies agreements such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the BW Convention, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the UN Register of Conventional Arms, the Wassenaar Agreement etc. The export procedures and the control lists of restricted armaments and “sensitive goods” and technologies set up by the international export control structures are fixed in the Russian legislation. In some cases as, for example, for so-called Australian Group that provides the export control of chemical and bacteriological components and dual-use technologies Russia hasn’t officially joined the regime but seeks to bring its legislation in correspondence with the regime requirements.

Participating in the multiply control regimes Russia, however, tries not to restrain its national interests and to estimate adequately its capabilities to carry out the accepted obligations.