Two Ukrainian Arms Dealers Reportedly Detained In Kazakhstan

Ukrainian media reports say two top officials with a Ukrainian state company involved in arms sales were arrested at a Kazakh airport last week.

The February 1 reports said the two Ukrspetseksport employees were detained after meeting with a Kazakh Defense Ministry official.

An unnamed Ukrainian Defense Ministry source said the employees were suspected of paying "a significant amount of cash for help in reaching deals."

Ukrspetseksport spokesman Andriy Masalskyy said internal investigations were under way, but no official information has been received from Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, a Kazakh Defense Ministry spokeswoman said on January 31 that the chief of the ministry's Directorate for Arms, Major General Almaz Asenov, was arrested for taking bribes.

Kazakhstan's KTK television reported that Asenov was suspected of accepting an illegal $200,000 payment.

Based on reporting by Ru.tsn.ua, Zn.ua, KTK, and Interfax