Why is this important
This could be the first case of EU imposing secondary sanctions against Kazakhstan and other countries in the region. Such measures will hit the financial channels through which Russia gains access to equipment and goods for the military-industrial complex.
What happened
- the package will be presented on September 12;
- it may include about six Russian banks, energy companies and crypto exchanges;
- The EU is discussing a ban on the import of equipment into Kazakhstan, which, according to the EU, is then re-exported to Russia;
- there may also be new restrictions on the trade of russian oil.
Context
In May, the EU announced a reduction in the re-export of sanctioned goods to Russia through several countries, including Uzbekistan and Armenia, but difficulties remain with Kazakhstan, Turkey, and the UAE. At the Central Asia— EU summit in April, the parties agreed to cooperate on preventing the circumvention of sanctions. Earlier, the EU imposed sanctions against 22 Russian banks, including T-Bank and Ozon Bank.
