17:20, 09 августа 2023, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Darya PODOLSKAYA
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov commented to Kabar news agency on the statements that Kyrgyzstan allegedly assists in evading sanctions against Russia.
It became known that U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov.
It states that Kyrgyzstan has assisted Russia, or its proxies, in evading international sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine. The Chairman stressed that such allegations have been levied amidst a backdrop of widespread democratic backsliding, and urged President Japarov to take steps to reverse course.
«There is no reason to believe so. Russia and China do not depend on little Kyrgyzstan. These countries are neighbors. There are four thousand kilometers of common border between them. If Russia wants, it can bring in any goods it wants by wagons or barges by sea. Yes, a shipment of drones from Kyrgyz company was detained in Kazakhstan. The company explained that the drones were intended for agricultural purposes. Despite this, we now prohibit export of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles,» Sadyr Japarov said.
As for the senator’s letter, I receive letters from many politicians. I regard this as a common excuse to put pressure on Kyrgyzstan and win us over to their side. We will not allow this. We are an independent country. We will continue to have equal relations with all countries. We will pursue a multi-vector foreign policy.
Sapdyr Japarov
The head of the Kyrgyz Republic added that in the issue of Russia and Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan initially stated that it adheres to a neutral position.
«We will adhere to this position in the future. Whether we change our position or not, the situation will not change in anyone’s favor. It does not depend on us,» Sadyr Japarov concluded.
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.