EU countries could impose sanctions on countries allegedly helping Moscow circumvent the West’s restrictive measures. In this respect writer The Telegraph newspaper that referenced the document.
Representatives of European countries noted an increase in the supply of goods with dual-use technologies to Central Asia. We’re talking specifically about washing machines, cameras, and used cars.
The Telegraph explains that products with dual-use technologies can be used by both the military and civilians. There is a list of such products whose export to Russia is prohibited.
According to the Telegraph in Brussels, this product is assumed to go to Russia. “There are fears that the new routes, whose activity has increased by 60-80 percent, are being used by Russia to circumvent Western sanctions,” the article says.
Europeans are concerned that the vehicles will be dismantled and parts such as semiconductors will be used to repair damaged Russian tanks, armored personnel carriers and reconnaissance aircraft in Ukraine. This is a huge problem, as an anonymous senior source in the EU pointed out.
Basically, such goods are now exported from the EU to Russia’s allies – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. In addition, diplomats are keeping a close eye on Türkiye, Armenia and the UAE for possible Russian assistance.
In response to circumvention of sanctions, European authorities may restrict any country, business or individual’s access to the common market. This is possible if there is evidence of re-exportation of prohibited goods to Russia.
“We must send a strong signal to individuals and organizations in third countries,” the confidential document said.
The Telegraph notes that most goods exported from European countries are sent across the Lithuanian land border to Belarus and then re-exported to Central Asia.
At the same time, the authorities can trace the export declarations to the outer border of the block. “Then they really disappear and can be moved to Russia,” the newspaper writes.
Like the other 18 member states of the Union, Vilnius has approved a plan to impose trade sanctions on countries aiding Moscow. There are 27 members in total in the EU.
But first, the bloc’s representatives must negotiate with Russia’s Asian allies and warn them of the consequences. “Kazakhstan, one of Moscow’s closest partners in the region, has pledged to control goods already passing through the country,” the Telegraph reported.
On March 23, the Financial Times newspaper, referring to Kazakhstan’s senior officials, reportedThat from April 1, a system for accounting for products imported and exported from the country will begin to work in Kazakhstan. It is assumed that this will “allow real-time monitoring of the entire chain of goods movement from border to border”, avoiding circumvention of sanctions against Russia.
“Our government has repeatedly and very clearly stated that Kazakhstan does not impose any sanctions or restrictions on trade with Russia. However, it will not allow Western sanctions to be bypassed and there will be no platform for such circumvention,” he said. He stressed that Kazakh authorities understand all the risks associated with secondary sanctions.
The Kremlin reacted to this decision of Astana with understanding. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously said that Russia values the partnership with Kazakhstan and will maintain close ties with it. At the same time, he stressed that Western countries directly threaten all states that refuse to participate in sanctions policies.