EU Threatens Secondary Sanctions on Kyrgyzstan
Economy
The European Union is considering using its anti-circumvention tool for the first time to ban the export of certain machinery and radio equipment to Kyrgyzstan. The measure is being discussed as part of the preparation of the 20th sanctions package against Russia, expected by the end of February 2026.
According to Bloomberg, the EU plans to restrict exports of specific machinery and radio equipment to Kyrgyzstan to prevent potential circumvention of existing sanctions on Russia. The proposed package also includes new trade restrictions on cryptocurrency services and financial institutions in third countries that assist Russia in bypassing EU sanctions.
During preparations for the 19th sanctions package, the EU limited itself to sanctions against individual companies in Central Asia. In October 2025, this included the VTB bank branch in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz banks “Tolubay” and “Eurasian Savings Bank,” and Tajikistan’s “Dushanbe City Bank,” “Spitamen,” and “Kommerzbank.”
In response, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the EU to conduct an independent review and verify claims of Kyrgyz banks circumventing sanctions. President Sadyr Japarov stressed that there is no evidence of sanctioned goods moving through Kyrgyzstan and proposed establishing a Kyrgyzstan–EU joint working group for data exchange and transaction monitoring.
During preparations for the 19th sanctions package, the EU limited itself to sanctions against individual companies in Central Asia. In October 2025, this included the VTB bank branch in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz banks “Tolubay” and “Eurasian Savings Bank,” and Tajikistan’s “Dushanbe City Bank,” “Spitamen,” and “Kommerzbank.”
In response, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the EU to conduct an independent review and verify claims of Kyrgyz banks circumventing sanctions. President Sadyr Japarov stressed that there is no evidence of sanctioned goods moving through Kyrgyzstan and proposed establishing a Kyrgyzstan–EU joint working group for data exchange and transaction monitoring.
Powered by Froala Editor