Azernews.Az

The Moldovan government did not authorize the country`s arms sale to Armenia last fall that sparked a row and drew a terse response from Azerbaijan, Armenia`s long-time foe, according to a report on the outcomes of a relevant scrutiny posted on the Moldovan parliament`s website.

MP Yuri Bolbochan, head of the ad hoc commission, which conducted the scrutiny, said that also, Marian Lupu, who served as Moldovan acting president at the time, was not aware of the arms sale.

According to the report, under the agreement signed in July 2011, a consignment of weapons was to be delivered not only to Armenia but also to Ukraine. But later, in August, a new deal was signed, which envisioned weaponry supplies only to the South Caucasus republic.

The ad hoc commission suggested sending the materials of the probe to the Moldovan prosecutor-general`s office and bringing the culprits to book.

In September 2011, a Libyan plane carrying artillery and anti-tank weapons flew from Benghazi to Moldova`s capital Chisinau and further to Yerevan. The Moldovan government has admitted that the outdated weaponry was slated for Armenia. A Latvian company brokered the arms deal.

The Moldovan government earlier said it was unaware of the arms sales, but military officials said they acted on the government`s orders. The ensuing row caused differences within the Moldovan government, and investigation into the matter was launched. Shortly after the arms supplies, Marian Lupu sacked the country`s armed forces chief, Gen. Iurie Dominic, in a move some analysts linked to the arms deal.

Moldovan ambassador in Baku Igor Bodiu earlier extended an apology to Azerbaijan over the weaponry sales to Armenia.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in bitter conflict for two decades.