MOSCOW, February 15 (Itar-Tass) - RIA Novosti. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to "transparency" in the issue of deploying Iskander missile systems in the Kaliningrad region. In the State Duma, in response, they said that Moscow would not provide the alliance with information on this issue.

"It's our legitimate territory, what we want, we do, unlike them, who call the Americans and other people who are unkind towards us," said Vladimir Shamanov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee.

The deputy chairman of the committee Yury Shvytkin expressed similar position. He noted that the actions of Russia, unlike the US, do not contradict the norms of international law.

Expansion of the USA

Head of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Viktor Bondarev noted in turn that the deployment of missile systems in the Kaliningrad region does not threaten international security, but provides protection for Russia in the context of NATO's eastward expansion
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"The Iskander operational-tactical missile system is a defensive weapon, and not an offensive one," said Senator RIA Novosti.

Bondarev also pointed to the build-up of NATO forces, the development of its infrastructure and the increase in the number of troops in close proximity to Russia - in Poland, Romania, and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, he stressed that it is necessary to pay attention to the actions of the United States, and not Russia.

"The United States has been expanding for several decades to neighboring countries: destroyed Yugoslavia, provoked a civil war with subsequent protracted disorders in Ukraine, politically and economically subordinated Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia," the parliamentarian said.

The alliance is to blame

A member of the Presidium of the All-Russian Organization "Officers of Russia," Colonel Andrey Golovatyuk also paralleled the actions of Moscow and Washington.

"Russia is a sovereign country and has the right to place its weapons on its own territory, where it wants, unlike, for example, the Americans who deployed their military contingent in Syria without agreement with the legitimate government." Therefore, I believe NATO can not demand from Russia, so that we can provide information about the location of the Iskander facilities, "he said on Sputnik radio.

According to him, the alliance is to blame for the fact that Russia had to take such a step. The expert recalled that the reason for this was the deployment of NATO military bases in Europe.

Golovatyuk stressed that the relations between Russia and NATO can improve only after the alliance has changed its approach.

Accommodation of "Iskander"

In early February, the lower house of parliament confirmed that Russia had deployed Iskander facilities in the Kaliningrad region. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia does not threaten anyone, but has the sovereign right to deploy weapons anywhere on its territory.

The basing of the missile complex in the Kaliningrad region took place against the background of the strengthening of the NATO group in the Baltic States. In October, the Defense Ministry reported that the alliance deployed a whole division of the armed forces near the Russian borders. For example, in Poland there are already two American armored brigades.

NATO has repeatedly stated that they are concerned about the redeployment of the Iskanders to Kaliningrad. In Moscow, in response, it was noted that Russia was doing everything necessary to protect itself against the background of the expansion of the alliance towards its borders.

Link: https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20180215/1514715615.html