The government announced that arms sales by Russian manufacturers were up ten percent in 2002, to a record $4.82 billion. As in the past, aircraft accounted for 70 percent of sales. China and India account for 80 percent of sales. But sales are up in North Africa and Southeast Asia.

In Chechnya, pro-Russian Chechen officials continue to complain of the army and police tactic of kidnapping relatives of suspected terrorists. Officials identified 49 people kidnapped in the last month. Much of the time, this kidnapping is just a form of extortion, although it is a useful tactic against rebels.