The European Union has approved the 20th sanctions package against Russia, which includes companies from Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan. The restrictions target organisations that, according to the EU, may have been involved in supplying goods to the Russian military-industrial complex (MIC).
The sanctions list includes 120 individuals and legal entities. According to official EU documents, the new package is one of the largest in the last two years.
SCOPE OF THE NEW EU RESTRICTIONS
Sanctions have been imposed on 16 companies from Kazakhstan, China, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Belarus. The European Union stated that the restrictions apply to suppliers of high-tech goods, including dual-use products.
WHICH COMPANIES HAVE BEEN SANCTIONED
According to Reuters, the companies in question include the Kazakh company United Trading Group and two employees of the German chemical company UrSeCo Handels. They are suspected of supplying hydrogen chloride to Russia, a substance used in the production of semiconductor wafers.
BAN ON EXPORTING MACHINE TOOLS TO KYRGYZSTAN
The new package pays particular attention to Kyrgyzstan. The European Union has banned the supply of computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools and radio equipment to the country.
The decision was made based on an analysis of trade data, which recorded a significant increase in the re-export of critically important goods to Russia via Kyrgyz territory.
As an example, the activities of the Kyrgyz company Interstyle Plus are cited, which is already under US sanctions along with its Russian partner Alliance LLC.
Notably, questions have been raised before regarding the transparency of logistics routes in the region.
In 2025, the founder of FBRK Kirill Pavlov published an investigation into the illegal tobacco market in Kazakhstan. During the analysis of logistics chains on maps, the main entry points for suspicious products, located along the border with Kyrgyzstan, were recorded.
BACKGROUND TO THE SANCTIONS DISCUSSION AND KYRGYZSTAN'S POSITION
On 2 March, the British newspaper Financial Times reported that Kyrgyzstan intended to sue the EU if sanctions were imposed, citing First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Daniyar Amangeldiev.
However, Amangeldiev later denied this information, stating that a misunderstanding had occurred. According to him, the Kyrgyz government is prepared to take measures against companies involved in supplying sanctioned goods to Moscow.
MEETING OF LEADERS IN MOSCOW
On 23 April, concurrently with the imposition of sanctions, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov visited Moscow on a working visit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the active work of countries on both sides and the positive economic growth rates of the republic.
During the conversation, Sadyr Japarov confirmed Kyrgyzstan's status as Russia's main ally and invited Vladimir Putin to the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which will be held in Bishkek on 31 August and 1 September.
CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
This is not the first time the European Union has included Kazakh companies in Russia-related sanctions lists. Similar decisions had previously been made as part of earlier restrictive packages.
For example, in 2024, Elem Group LLP was added to the sanctions list, which the European side linked to a possible circumvention of trade restrictions.