Brussels is concerned about the sharp increase in the deliveries of European industrial and radio equipment to Russia through Kyrgyzstan over the past year, David O’Sullivan, the European Union’s special envoy on sanctions, said at a briefing in Bishkek on February 26. In his words, this equipment is not manufactured in Kyrgyzstan, but imported from Europe for re-export to Russia, 24.kg reported.
He said the EU has asked Kyrgyzstan not to allow its territory to be used to circumvent sanctions.
In October 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on two Kyrgyz banks—Tolubai Bank and Eurasian Savings Bank—due to suspicions of helping Russia circumvent Western sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine.
Kyrgyzstan has repeatedly stated that the sanctions against its banks are unfounded.
According to O’Sullivan, the sanctions are not against the banks’ operation in Kyrgyzstan. They only ban transactions with European banks, which effectively cuts the Kyrgyz banks off from SWIFT.
The special envoy emphasized that the EU respects Kyrgyzstan’s sovereignty and its traditional relationship with Russia. The EU is not asking for a halt to trade with Russia, but is merely asking that trade relations not include the deliberate circumvention of the sanctions through the supply of European dual-use goods.
In Bishkek, O’Sullivan met with Kyrgyz First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiyev, who emphasized that the Kyrgyz Republic is consistently strengthening compliance measures, financial monitoring, and transparency in foreign economic transactions, according to the government’s press service.
Amangeldiyev also noted that effective export and financial controls presuppose shared responsibility among all participants in the foreign economic chain, including European exporters. He emphasized the importance of European suppliers duly implementing their own export control requirements and checking end users and the intended destination of goods.
The Kyrgyz side also reported on practical steps to strengthen control mechanisms in commercial banks, including blocking transactions that pose potential risks.
The sides noted the need to develop a plan of joint measures aimed at removing Kyrgyz banks from the sanctions list.
The envoy emphasized that the European Union expects further progress in strengthening export and financial control mechanisms by Kyrgyzstan.
Photo: gov.kg
