Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev stated that Kyrgyzstan is not involved in helping Russia circumvent trade restrictions imposed by Western countries.
Speaking to the Kyrgyz news outlet 24.kg, Kasymaliev said that Kyrgyzstan does not participate in sanctions evasion, while maintaining close economic ties with Russia. He noted that many Kyrgyz citizens work in Russia and that remittances from migrant workers remain an important source of income for the country.
Kasymaliev also commented on the decision by the European Union to apply its anti-circumvention mechanism to Kyrgyzstan as part of the bloc’s 20th sanctions package against Russia, adopted in late April.
Under the measure, exports to Kyrgyzstan of numerically controlled equipment and radio equipment were restricted. The European Union said the mechanism was activated because of what it described as Kyrgyzstan’s repeated failure to prevent the re-export of certain goods to Russia.
According to Kasymaliev, Kyrgyzstan itself has not been placed under international sanctions and the EU restrictions concern only two categories of products.
The prime minister said Kyrgyz authorities invited major international audit firms to examine local banks that have been sanctioned by the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He said the government offered to pay for independent audits to determine whether the banks had violated sanctions rules.
Kasymaliev noted that international partners had suggested closing some financial institutions, but the government declined, citing the need to protect customer deposits and maintain financial system stability.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan expressed regret over the European Union’s decision to apply the anti-circumvention mechanism. The ministry stated that Kyrgyzstan’s position had not been taken into account and warned that such unilateral decisions could affect the atmosphere of trust between the parties.
