Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko stated that the country's authorities are against “exploitation by Russia territory of their country to circumvent international sanctions”which were imposed on it by the West after initiating a full-scale war in Ukraine.
– Kazakhstan did not impose sanctions on Russia and did not join them. At the same time, we do not want our territory to be used to celebrate them – said Wasilenko in an interview with PAP, whose words were quoted by the Russian propaganda agency TASS.
Kazakhstan did not join the sanctions. However, he is not very keen on helping Russia
In the opinion of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Astana's position is “known and clear” to all interested parties, as well as Is understood both in Russia and in the West.
Roman Vasilenko further added that the necessary measures are being taken to ensure that the Russian Federation does not circumvent the sanctions. Reason? Kazakhstan does not want secondary sanctions imposed on itjust for any cooperation in Moscow. Although Vasilenko emphasized that bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Russia are proceeding smoothly there are differences on some issues.
The Moscow Times recalls that earlier Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin said that the country does not support the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, but complies with them because “it is beneficial from an economic point of view”. – We have a small economy, naturally we cannot withstand the pressure of sanctions – he added.
They do not want to help Russia circumvent sanctions. There is one “but”
Serik Zhumangarin shortly later pointed out that Kazakhstan “will not blindly follow sanctions” if they pose a threat to companies in his country. He argued that some of the measures aimed at restricting the Russian Federation's access to certain goods “disproportionately harmed Kazakhstan.”
He also assessed that the West had done little to compensate for the losses incurred by Astana due to the sanctions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Nurlan Baibazarov, speaking in September about cases of violation of sanctions imposed on Russia, stated that they were isolatedand the authorities are taking action on this matter. He also emphasized that the sanctions had been violated by two companies from Kazakhstan.
The Moscow Times reminds in the publication that after Western companies withdrew from the Russian market, Astana became the main center for importing goods to Russia.
Source: The Moscow Times