Brussels is increasingly concerned about a sharp rise in Kyrgyzstan’s imports of radio equipment and machine tools that are later shipped to Russia in violation of Western sanctions, according to the European Union’s Sanctions Envoy David O’Sullivan.
Read also: Ukraine’s war drives Kazakhstan’s exports of laptops, bulldozers to Russia.
Speaking at a press conference, O’Sullivan said the EU has evidence suggesting that some goods are being imported into Kyrgyzstan primarily for re-export to Russia, bypassing sanctions imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trade flows draw scrutiny
According to Reuters, Kyrgyzstan has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, expanding at an average annual rate of about 9%.
The news agency described the country as a transit route through which sanctioned equipment with potential military applications may be reaching Russia.
EU urges action but stops short of trade demands
O’Sullivan noted that the EU recognizes Kyrgyzstan’s economic dependence on Russia, where many Kyrgyz citizens work as labor migrants. However, he said the bloc is not asking Bishkek to end trade relations with Moscow.
Instead, the EU expects Kyrgyz authorities to ensure that commercial ties do not involve the deliberate circumvention of sanctions through the supply of restricted European goods to Russia via Kyrgyzstan.
Surge in imports and exports
Previously, the Financial Times, citing an internal European Commission document, reported that Kyrgyzstan’s imports of so-called priority dual-use goods from the EU have increased by roughly 800% since the start of the war in Ukraine. Over the same period, Kyrgyz exports to Russia have risen by about 1,200%.
Possible additional sanctions
Reuters reported that several Kyrgyz banks and cryptocurrency companies have already been sanctioned by Western countries for allegedly helping Moscow bypass restrictions. The EU is now considering additional measures.
Read also: New sanctions pressure Rosatom as Kazakhstan’s nuclear project advances.
Kyrgyz authorities have criticized sanctions imposed on domestic companies, describing them as unilateral and an interference in the country’s internal affairs.
