Kubinka (Moscow region). August 26. INTERFAX-The US sanctions imposed against Kalashnikov are aimed at giving the Americans an advantage in the small arms market, the concern's CEO Vladimir Lepin told Interfax.
"There is the whole world, except for America, where we are also in demand and are in good demand. If in 2014 the total revenue for the group of companies was 4 billion rubles, now we are approaching 30 billion rubles, " Lepin said.
According to him, the sanctions played a certain role, but they did not have a critical impact.
"The sanctions have affected us, we could have sold much more and would have been thinking about something else-how to build factories, expand production. But we have adapted to the conditions that were artificially created, " the CEO said.
According to the press service of Kalashnikov, sales of civilian small arms increased by almost 40% last year compared to the previous one, but the situation is aggravated by the introduction of amendments to the Law on Weapons.
"The domestic market of civilian small arms in connection with the closure of many foreign ones gave about 80% of revenue in this segment. We continue to evaluate the economic and technological effect of innovations, including the deferred one. But, unfortunately, we are talking about significant financial losses and job cuts, " the press service reported.
The concern believes that the amendments to this law will hit the segment of civilian small arms more than sanctions.