Russia's Central Bank is contemplating banning transfers to countries that have restricted the use of the Mir payment cards, a move prompted by recent actions taken by some nations. Uzbekistan ceased servicing Mir cards in September 2022, following similar actions by other countries.
During a State Duma meeting, the head of the Russian Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina mentioned the possibility of introducing retaliatory measures against countries that imposed restrictions on the Mir card. The Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Irina Rodnina, highlighted instances where banking organizations and payment systems in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan had discontinued or limited Mir card services due to U.S. Treasury Department sanctions.
Nabiullina acknowledged the increasing intensity of sanctions affecting Russia's financial sector. She emphasized ongoing dialogues with friendly nations to maintain and enhance financial infrastructure, particularly focusing on efficient payment mechanisms for tourist flows and migrant worker remittances. Discussions on potential platform integrations are also underway.
In September 2022, Uzbekistan's processing centre UZCARD halted Mir card services, citing technical procedures. Additionally, the use of UZCARD-Mir co-branded cards was restricted abroad. Mamarizo Nurmuratov, chairman of the Uzbekistan Central Bank, mentioned efforts to resume Mir card services, citing ongoing discussions with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to shield banks from potential sanctions. However, no specific timeline was outlined for the resumption of services, leaving Mir cards inactive in Uzbekistan for the time being.
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