The UK Foreign Office has published guidance for Kazakhstani companies, warning of potential consequences for helping to circumvent British sanctions.
According to the Telegram channel "HALYQSTAN", the 27-page document was posted on the department's official website. It primarily concerns restrictions imposed against Russia. Additionally, the guidance covers other countries subject to the UK's sanctions regime.
The guidance emphasises that UK sanctions are part of national legislation which is binding on its citizens and legal entities. However, Kazakhstani businesses, while not subject to the direct effect of these laws, may still face restrictions for engaging in activities that facilitate the circumvention of sanctions or undermine their objectives.
"The UK can impose sanctions directly against you as an individual or against organisations you own or control, if you participate in activity that helps to breach or circumvent UK sanctions," the document states.
The department stresses that in a number of cases, such sanctions have already been applied to companies from third countries, including Kazakhstan.
The guidance also lists potential consequences for violators: denial of services by international partners, freezing of assets in British banks, denial of insurance, and restricted access to financial services. It further emphasises that no international company with links to the UK will cooperate with those who breach the regime.
Breaches are defined as:
- exporting sanctioned goods from the UK to Russia;
- supplying goods of Russian origin to the UK;
- direct or indirect supplies of prohibited products to Russia;
- providing access to such goods to citizens of the Russian Federation.
Although Kazakhstan has not officially joined UK sanctions and does not have its own national sanctions regimes, some of the country's laws regulate activity similar to that covered by sanctions. The British side also recommended that Kazakhstani banks restrict their work with clients subject to international sanctions.