Media reports said yesterday Kazakhstan has restricted the export of 106 items of goods to the Russian Federation that could be used for military purposes following demands from the West that Kazakhstan and its neighbors abide by sanctions imposed on Moscow over its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.         

Kazinform reports that Kazakh Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration, Kairat Torebayev, said on October 19 that the export to Russia of 106 goods “related to the war” had been banned by the government, including items such as drone components, electronics, and computer chips manufactured abroad.

“We have completely restricted their export.  Kazakhstan exports all types of commodities, except for 106 specific types of goods (that) it has had to curb,” Torebayev said as cited by Kazinform.  

Kazakhstan does not manufacture these goods, but only imports them, Kazakh deputy trade minister added.

Recall, Western countries have criticized Kazakhstan and other Central Asian governments for allowing military supplies to cross their borders and flow into Russia since Moscow launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February last year. 

Last month, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin that his country would adhere to the sanctions regime imposed by the West on Russia.

Meanwhile Russia’s state-run news agency TASS reported yesterday the press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan has said authorities of Kazakhstan have not set bans on exports of any goods to Russia in connection with anti-Russian sanctions. 

“Concerning information circulated in mass media about the ban to sell 106 items of goods to Russia due to sanctions, the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan officially announces that it is not correct. Trade relations between Kazakhstan and Russia are regulated in full compliance with provisions of the Agreement on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).  No bans on exports of any goods to Russia in connection with anti-Russian sanctions were established," the ministry noted as cited by TASS.

Trade in the so-called dual-use goods subjected to export control is carried in accordance with international obligations of Kazakhstan, the press service informed.  "In accordance with the laws of Kazakhstan, an appropriate license should be obtained for exports, imports and transit relatively to such goods.  The export control system is a special sphere of the commercial policy that implies receipt of permits needed for import, export and transit of dual-use goods.  Export control is assigned to the national competence, which is also provided for in the EAEU Agreement," it added.

106 items of goods mentioned earlier by Kazakh Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev are on the list of dual-use goods, the press service informed.  Export control of such goods is exercised for more than twenty years in line with international export control regimes, the ministry added.