Wed. Aug.
23
2023
Russian Foreign Policy and Trade
Central Asia: A Loophole for Russia’s Sanctions?
Russia is facing unprecedented economic and political sanctions from the United States and its allies over its invasion of Ukraine. However, Moscow has found ways to circumvent these by exploiting its ties with the countries of Central Asia. In 2022, the US government issued an alert that listed Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan among a group of 18 countries possibly serving as “transshipment points through which restricted or controlled exports have been known to pass before reaching destinations in Russia or Belarus.” The US Treasury Department has sanctioned individuals and companies in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for facilitating the re-export to Russia of goods subject to sanctions. In this online event, three expert speakers will shed light on the role played by Central Asian governments in facilitating Russian maneuvers to get around Western sanctions.