Sanctions - The Times Of Central Asia

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Authorities Rail Against Use of Kazakhstan in Circumventing International Sanctions Against Russia

Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko emphasized in an interview with the Polish publication PAP that the country seeks to prevent its territory from being used to circumvent international sanctions imposed against Russia. According to Vassilenko, although Kazakhstan has not officially imposed sanctions nor joined the anti-Russian measures, the republic's authorities consider it essential to prevent risks associated with possible secondary sanctions against its companies. This is especially important in regard to its close economic ties with Western countries. At the same time and in acknowledgement of its position concerning both its Western partners and Russia, Kazakhstan has emphasized the need for balance and an avoidance of circumvention of restrictive measures. Vassilenko also noted that Kazakhstan is actively cooperating with the European Union on the sanctions regime, and as part of these consultations, reported that he had been in dialog with David O'Sullivan, the EU special envoy for sanctions. Vassilenko denied speculation about growing tensions between Kazakhstan and Russia, and pointing out that the countries maintain close ties, explained: “There are different issues because we are neighbors and have diverse relations. We are working with Russia to solve these issues before they become problems. This is our approach not only to the Russian Federation but to any other country." After the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Kazakhstan took a neutral stance and did not support Western sanctions against Moscow. Nevertheless, the Kazakh authorities have repeatedly stated that they will not allow the country's territory to be used to circumvent these restrictions. President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, in his speeches, adheres to the principle of compliance with the international sanctions regime and aims to conduct a constructive dialog with the EU and the U.S. to avoid possible secondary sanctions that could affect Kazakh companies.

Central Asia Finesses Pressure over Russia, Sanctions

Kyrgyzstan says it will cooperate with regional heavyweight Russia despite appeals from some Western countries not to do so. The comment by President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan reflects a broader effort by Central Asian countries to balance longstanding economic and security ties with Moscow alongside relationships with Europe and the United States, which have imposed multiple sanctions packages on Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “Certainly, there are Western countries that ask us not to cooperate with Russia,” Japarov said in an interview with the state-run Kabar news agency that was published on Wednesday. “However, I always openly and sincerely respond to them: ´We cannot refuse to cooperate with Russia. Our trade turnover with Russia exceeds $4 billion. We buy oil, gas, wheat and other foodstuffs from Russia. Geographically, we are in a landlocked area. Our road and rail routes to the world pass through Russia. Russia hosts about a million of our migrants. How can we not cooperate with Russia?”´ Japarov noted that trade between some European Union countries and Russia runs into billions of dollars a year despite sanctions, saying: “When you need it, you cooperate with Russia, but we are not allowed to. This is an unfair demand.” The EU says it has imposed “massive and unprecedented” sanctions on Russia, including travel bans on individuals, asset freezes on individuals and entities and economic measures that target Russia’s financial, trade, energy, transport, technology and defense areas. However, exemptions and loopholes mean that some trade continues, for example allowing EU member states that are especially dependent on Russian crude oil to continue receiving it by pipeline. Czechia has spent more than 7 billion euros on Russian oil and gas, over five times what it has provided in aid to Ukraine, according to a report released this week by the Center for the Study of Democracy, a European public policy institute. Additionally, many analysts have pointed to a surge in European exports to Central Asia and the Caucasus since 2022 as a probable indication that EU and British companies are using the regions as a conduit to send goods to Russia, including at least a portion that are subject to sanctions. The difficulty of tracking products made it hard to confirm any sanctions-dodging, though an analysis of trade data by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development last year concluded that changes in regional trade patterns “may be used to circumvent economic sanctions but on a limited scale.” At the same time, there have been more reports of banks in Central Asian countries refusing to accept cross-border payments from Russian companies as the United States moved to impose secondary sanctions for doing business with Russian entities. Banks in China, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates, all big trade partners with Russia, have taken similar action. Kyrgyzstan is not the only Central Asian country that has expressed frustration about Western sanctions. Last year, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said his country would comply with sanctions against Russia while still...

Moscow’s MOEX No Longer a Stakeholder in Kazakhstan’s Stock Exchange

Marking a significant move for the country's financial market, Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) has announced the withdrawal of Moscow Exchange PJSC (MOEX) from its shareholders. An updated list of shareholders, available on the official site of the Exchange, shows that as of October 11, 2024, the main shareholder of KASE remains the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a 47% stake. . According to reports, the conclusion of its cooperation with MOEX, KASE marks the end of a collaborative phase that began on October 10, 2018, following the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the exchanges. During this period, several key projects implemented to advance Kazakhstan's exchange market included modernizing trading and clearing systems, introducing central counterparty services across all trading segments, and launching new financial instruments, such as repo transactions with clearing certificates of participation. On September 30, 2024, Vladimir Krekoten, representative of MOEX, resigned from the KASE Board of Directors, having applied for early termination of his position. The Exchange expressed gratitude to MOEX for its contribution in realizing strategic tasks to expand the exchange market opportunities and create new products. KASE remains the leading exchange in Central Asia, providing universal opportunities for trading in corporate and government securities, currency transactions, derivatives, and bonds of international organizations. The Exchange is a member of the International Federation of Exchanges (WFE) and the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges (FEAS) and actively participates in the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative. In June, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions against the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), the National Settlement Depository, and the National Clearing Center of the Russian Federation, after which, representatives of the exchange said they would consider continuing business relations with the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), subject to the restrictions on sanctions. On July 15, 2024, KASE Chairman of the Board Alina Aldambergen spoke out about the buyout of the Kazakh exchange's stake from the Moscow Exchange (MOEX).

Kyrgyzstan Complicates Re-Export of Goods to Russia

Re-exporting goods to Russia from third countries through Kyrgyzstan are to become more expensive due to a new rule implemented by the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR). The new protocol prohibits banks from making payments for goods intended for foreign countries without actual delivery to the territory of Kyrgyzstan. The rule came into force on September 25 and effectively closed the channel of transit payments for goods from third countries to Russia through Kyrgyzstan. The move is seen as a response to requests from international financial institutions. It might be instrumental in putting an end to Russia’s practice of avoiding Western sanctions imposed due to Russia's war in Ukraine. The new NBKR rule would also benefit the Kyrgyz economy, as re-exported goods must now be delivered to Kyrgyzstan and subject to Kyrgyz customs duties and taxes. According to Russian media reports, Russian importers have already encountered difficulties associated with the new requirement to transport goods through Kyrgyzstan, and the corresponding customs and tax costs, which makes re-export less profitable. The NBKR requirement does not extend to the Trading Company, established by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on August 23. Wholly state-owned, the company oversees trade flows involving Kyrgyz firms that re-export goods without physically delivering them to Kyrgyzstan. The Trading Company has the exclusive right to carry out trade operations without actual delivery to Kyrgyzstan. Companies that previously carried out trade without delivery to the Kyrgyz territory must carry out operations through the Trading Company. Also, the NBKR rule does not apply to deliveries made through e-commerce marketplaces for personal use.

Kazakhstan’s Home Credit Bank Stops Working with Russian VTB Bank

Kazakhstan's Home Credit Bank has stopped its cooperation with the Russian VTB Bank because of the risk of secondary sanctions, Home Credit has reported. “In connection with international sanctions imposed on JSC DO Bank VTB Kazakhstan (VTB Kazakhstan), JSC 'Home Credit Bank' has decided to cease cooperation with VTB Kazakhstan to exclude the risks of secondary sanctions. In this regard, any transfer operations in tenge and foreign currency on customers' accounts to/from VTB Kazakhstan will be stopped,” the bank's statement read. VTB remains the only Russian bank with a subsidiary structure in Kazakhstan. Earlier, Sberbank and Alfa Bank sold their subsidiary banks in the country. The US, EU, and UK are enforcing sanctions on VTB. As of July 1, 2024, VTB Kazakhstan ranked 18th in assets among the country's 21 banks. Home Credit Bank Kazakhstan was previously owned by Home Bank, but fully exited the asset at the end of 2022. Home Credit Bank CEO Kirill Bachvarov explained that this was necessary to restore the bank's rating, as the link to the Russian shareholder negatively affected its position. In July 2024, the U.S. Treasury tightened sanctions against Russia, adding to the list of companies whose work with Russia could lead to risks of secondary sanctions, including VTB Kazakhstan.

National Bank of Kyrgyzstan Comments on Suspension of Money Transfers with Russia

In regard to the suspension by some Kyrgyz banks of money transfers between Kyrgyzstan and Russia, the National Bank explained to The Times of Central Asia that second-tier banks are working to prevent the negative impact of international sanctions. “To minimize the risk of secondary sanctions, measures are taken to strengthen control over clients and counterparties, to conduct thorough checks to ensure that they are not on the sanctions lists,” said representatives of the financial regulator, before adding that the National Bank is remotely supervising compliance with international sanctions. All commercial banks in Kyrgyzstan must check their counterparties in adherence to the policy “know your client,” and request documents from clients confirming the origin of funds. It should be noted that money transfers between Kyrgyzstan and Russia are still carried out through ruble details of other Russian banks, which have not fallen under sanctions. In addition, it is possible to transfer funds through money transfer systems. On June 12, 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added the Moscow Exchange, the Russian Center, and the National Settlement Depository National Cleari to its sanctions list. As a result, trading in the U.S. dollar and euro was halted at the Moscow Exchange. Then, eight commercial banks from Kyrgyzstan restricted their work to Russian money transfer systems. But after a few days, work with Russian-sanctioned banks was resumed. In April this year, Kyrgyzstan stopped accepting Russian MIR cards due to the risk of secondary sanctions. Later, the head of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, said that once a processing center is created, they will continue to work with Russian banking systems. Currently, the Interbank Processing Center of Kyrgyzstan is serviced by a Latvian company providing work software.