U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic regarding allegations that Kyrgyzstan has assisted Russia, or its proxies, in evading international sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine. The full text of the letter is published on the website of the Foreign Relations Committee.
The Chairman emphasized that such allegations have been levied amidst a backdrop of widespread democratic backsliding, and urged President Japarov to take steps to reverse course.
«Since the onset of the war, Kyrgyzstan has dramatically expanded its import-export business with Russia. At the same time, your government’s lack of enforcement or worse — complicit facilitation of trade with Russia in products that implicate sanctions, such as drones, aircraft parts, weapon accessories, and circuitry — is reportedly enabling Russia to evade international sanctions,» the Chairman wrote.
I urge your government to immediately investigate these serious allegations of sanctions evasion and to establish more reliable, robust processes to prevent the illicit flow of goods through your territory.
Bob Menendez
He added that there are fears that Kyrgyzstan’s failure to uphold international sanctions on Russia is simply a symptom of its continued democratic backsliding and widespread human rights violations.
«Your government has weakened institutions, repeatedly violated the rights of journalists and independent media, harassed human rights defenders, and placed restrictions on civil society actors,» Bob Menendez wrote.
A once shining beacon of democracy in Central Asia, the Kyrgyz Republic is headed down a dangerous path toward autocracy. I urge you to lift all restrictions on independent media and journalists, release imprisoned human rights defenders, and repeal measures restricting fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of association.
Bob Menendez
It was reported on July 20 that four companies from Kyrgyzstan were included in the U.S. government sanctions list for cooperation with Russia. The Washington Post reported, citing senior White House officials, that sanctions could be imposed on the Kyrgyz Republic. The media outlet said that a hidden system was organized in Central Asia for the supply of prohibited technologies to the Russian Federation.
The authorities of Kyrgyzstan reacted to the message. The head of the Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, said that the Kyrgyz Republic would take measures to prevent the sanctioned goods from crossing the border. The State Committee for National Security launched an investigation into the activities of private companies involved in the re-export of sanctioned goods.
