Kyrgyzstan, suspected of exporting technology to Russia that could be used for military purposes, defended itself on Thursday against accusations that it would help Moscow circumvent Western sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine, while acknowledging the “possible” involvement of some private companies, AFP reported and Agerpres.

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadir JaparovPhoto: Mykhailo Metzel / Sputnik / Profimedia

The Special Services (GKNS), the Ministry of Economy and the Prime Minister of this Central Asian country denied the export of goods under sanctions to Russia, which is part of the political, economic and military alliances with Kyrgyzstan.

Like Kyrgyzstan, other former Soviet republics, as well as Turkey, China and the United Arab Emirates, are suspected of importing, especially from Europe, and then exporting to Russia embargoed materials, especially electronic components that can be reused by the military complex – Russian industrialist.

In a statement, the National Security Service of Ukraine “asserts with certainty that neither the Kyrgyz state itself nor any state structure or enterprise is involved in the violation of the regime of compliance with the restrictions imposed by the United States and Western countries on Russia.”

However, the services “recognize the possible involvement of private enterprises” and say they are “investigating to put an end” to the practice, while Kyrgyzstan’s global exports to Russia increased by 145% between 2021 and 2022, according to Kyrgyz customs data.

The Ministry of Economy has reacted to the recent confiscation in Kazakhstan, according to local media, of 14 Chinese DJI AGras T30 drones – a model used in agriculture – as “a single violation in the field of export control”.

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As for the prime minister, he assured that “measures will be taken so that sanctioned products do not cross the Kyrgyz border and do not end up in places where there are sanctions.”

In recent months, several American representatives and diplomats visited Central Asia and planned to threaten secondary sanctions, while at the same time recognizing the sensitive position of these countries in relation to Moscow, AFP notes.

Recently, an enterprise from Kyrgyzstan was sanctioned by Washington, and two more based in Uzbekistan were blacklisted by the EU.

The reaction of the government of Kyrgyzstan on Thursday came after a day ago the American website Politico wrote, citing diplomatic sources in Washington, that the United States may introduce a series of more comprehensive sanctions against this Central Asian country for non-compliance with the sanctions regime against Russia.

According to French customs data, the significant increase in exports to Central Asian republics since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine also affects France: between 2021 and 2022, exports to Kyrgyzstan increased by 46.5%, and to Kazakhstan – by almost 85%. services, AFP notes.

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