Dmitry Drize – about problems with payments from friendly countries

Kazakhstan is slowing down transactions. The time frame for funds to be credited now reaches two to three weeks. The media information is confirmed by Kommersant FM interlocutors. Difficulties began at the end of February. A similar situation is also recorded with Turkish and Chinese banks. The problem is explained by Western sanctions. Kommersant FM political commentator Dmitry Drize believes that Russia’s partners are forced to yield to pressure from the United States and the EU.

At the end of March, the Financial Times newspaper and the Eurasianet portal reported that an automated export and import control system would be operational in Kazakhstan from April 1. Its point is not to violate anti-Russian sanctions and put barriers on the path of relevant products.

Responsible officials say that the republic in no way intends to interfere with trade with its ally. However, you understand that no one needs problems – you will somehow sort it out among yourself, and everything will be fine, as before. By the way, there is no official mention of any such measures. Because there is no need for this, these are purely technical checks, largely formal. We looked, if everything is fine, there are no complaints.

Nevertheless, it seems very likely that the very system that the above-mentioned publications mention has worked to one degree or another. At least, Russian exporters complain about difficulties with making payments. No one is denying anything, it’s just that something seems to be going wrong.

Things haven’t been going well for a long time with Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation. So Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently came to them and asked them in a good way that there was no need to violate sanctions.

You have ambitious plans, a bid for leadership – we will support, but there are some conditions, small ones. A similar situation arises with Turkey, and even with Chinese banks. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in China on another visit. Blinken is also set to visit Beijing soon.

The general meaning is the same as with Kazakhstan: no one prohibits trade in general, just don’t violate the sanctions. We will not once again cite the figures of their trade turnover, but they speak for themselves. So the Chinese comrades are delaying payments, because they also need to check all this, what is where and how. But at the same time, there is no politics – these are purely technical issues.

An interesting story with Armenia: on the one hand, there is a discord in relations, and, on the other, mutual trade is breaking records. However, if Yerevan is seriously planning to move to the West, it will also apparently have to monitor export-import operations. There is also Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. But it seems that if the US continues its pressure, not everything will work out well here either.

But at the same time, it is unlikely that what is happening will somehow affect the general level of relations. Everything is clear to everyone, nothing personal – just business. Everyone has their own interests. And now is not the time to throw partners away. Western sources write that Moscow is asking Astana to help with gasoline, just in case. Kazakhstan does not mind – it is always ready to lend a shoulder. If there is such an opportunity, why not?

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