Kazakh Foreign Minister vows not to help Russia circumvent Western sanctions

Kazakhstan will not impose sanctions against Russia against Russia, but it will also not help it bypass Western restrictions, declared Foreign Minister of the Republic Mukhtar Tleuberdi on the air of the Japanese TV channel NHK.

According to the diplomat, Astana and Moscow have close economic ties, so the sanctions imposed against Russia had a negative impact on the economy of Kazakhstan.

“Kazakhstan has not imposed sanctions against Russia, but adheres to the principle that it will not be used by various companies to circumvent sanctions. We will continue to support the current relations between Kazakhstan and Russia,” he said.

At the same time, Tleuberdi stressed that the republic seeks to develop mutually beneficial and equal relations with Russia, China, neighbors in Central Asia, as well as with the USA, Japan, EU countries, and the UK. “This allows us to work with countries and attract investment from all countries,” he added.

In April, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan Timur Suleimenov declaredthat Astana will not help Moscow bypass the sanctions imposed against it by the US and EU countries. Suleimenov then noted that it was important for Kazakhstan to demonstrate to European partners that the country would not become Russia’s instrument in circumventing sanctions.

After the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, Western countries imposed new sanctions on Russian companies, businessmen and the country’s leadership. The states banned the export of some goods and technologies to Russia, and also closed their airspace to Russian aircraft. Some foreign companies have begun to suspend their activities in Russia due to a special operation, sanctions and problems with logistics. EU countries have already introduced nine packages of sanctions.