In March 2015, Avakov negotiated with the U.S. [[Pentagon]] for military training to be given by U.S. Special Forces to the Azov Regiment as part of Operation Fearless Guardian. Reps. [[John Conyers, Jr.]] and [[Ted Yoho]] denounced the idea. They argued that arming [[Islamist]]s in [[Afghanistan]] had made possible the formation of [[al-Qaeda]] and the spread of [[terrorism]]. They convinced members of Congress that the [[United States]] could not train neo-Nazis without risking the consequences. The congressmen therefore forbade the Pentagon to pursue and arm the Azov Regiment with rocket launchers ([[MANPAD]]s) during the vote on the defense budget.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023503/https://conyers.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-passes-3-amendments-rep-conyers-defense-spending-bill-protect</ref> Some Azov units received the training in [[Canada]]. However, the Pentagon succeeded in having the amendment withdrawn,<ref>https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/congress-has-removed-a-ban-on-funding-neo-nazis-from-its-year-end-spending-bill/</ref> prompting protests from the [[Simon Wiesenthal|Simon Wiesenthal Center]]. | In March 2015, Avakov negotiated with the U.S. [[Pentagon]] for military training to be given by U.S. Special Forces to the Azov Regiment as part of Operation Fearless Guardian. Reps. [[John Conyers, Jr.]] and [[Ted Yoho]] denounced the idea. They argued that arming [[Islamist]]s in [[Afghanistan]] had made possible the formation of [[al-Qaeda]] and the spread of [[terrorism]]. They convinced members of Congress that the [[United States]] could not train neo-Nazis without risking the consequences. The congressmen therefore forbade the Pentagon to pursue and arm the Azov Regiment with rocket launchers ([[MANPAD]]s) during the vote on the defense budget.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023503/https://conyers.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-passes-3-amendments-rep-conyers-defense-spending-bill-protect</ref> Some Azov units received the training in [[Canada]]. However, the Pentagon succeeded in having the amendment withdrawn,<ref>https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/congress-has-removed-a-ban-on-funding-neo-nazis-from-its-year-end-spending-bill/</ref> prompting protests from the [[Simon Wiesenthal|Simon Wiesenthal Center]]. |