State defence procurement at "Baspik" plant suspended, authorities of North Ossetia report

In the city of Vladikavkaz, the "Baspik" plant, which employs more than 300 people, has suspended the execution of the state defence procurement, since the necessary equipment was seized during searches. This was reported by the press service of the leader of North Ossetia. The pause of the plant will result in the failure of the manufacture of night vision devices for the Russian army, reports the General Director of the Stock Company (SC) "Cathode" in Novosibirsk.

On March 3, at the "Baspik" plant, law enforcers carried out searches connected with the investigation into the purchase of the property of the "Gran" plant concluded in 2013. The General Director of the "Baspik" plant has been informed that a criminal case on fraud is instituted against the plant's top-managers.

"The searches ... were accompanied by seizure of documents and equipment. The execution of the state defence procurement is currently suspended until the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) return the seized equipment," reported the website of the government of North Ossetia on March 4.

According to Vladimir Loktionov, the General Director of the SC "Cathode", the termination of the supply of components from the "Baspik" plant will completely deprive the Novosibirsk plant "Cathode" of the possibility to collect electro-optical converters required for the production of night vision devices for the Russian army.

"The suspension of the operation of the 'Baspik' plant will result in the failure of the execution of the defence procurement, since there is a production chain, and it cannot be broken," stated Vladimir Loktionov as quoted by the RIA "Novosti".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.