Kyrgyzstan to Sue the EU Over Secondary Sanctions

As the European Commission readies its next sanctions list against companies and individuals it deems connected to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan’s government has warned it may file a lawsuit if their trade links are involved, the FT reported on March 2.

Daniyar Amangeldiev, Kyrgyzstan’s first deputy chairman of the cabinet, said that while his country has worked to comply with Western sanctions, the European Union has continued to target Kyrgyz entities, without drawing a clear roadmap towards full compliance.

Commenting on potential new sanctions or trade restrictions, Amangeldiev said that they would negatively impact the country’s international image.

“If such a decision is made, we will be ready to challenge it in court,” Amangeldiev told the FT. “If the rules have not been formulated, how can we play by them?”

According to confidential documents cited by the FT, the Commission is planning a ban on sales of certain dual-use goods that could be sent to the battlefield.

“Brussels alleges Kyrgyz companies are violating sanctions by re-exporting them to Russia,” the FT reported, based on the documents.

Kyrgyzstan’s imports from the EU have skyrocketed by around 800% since the start of the war in February 2022, while exports to Russia have also ballooned 1,200%, according to the documents. The figures suggest that Kyrgyzstan may be playing a role in Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions.

“We are not in favor of adding fuel to this conflict,” Amangeldiev said.

Last week, EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan traveled to Bishkek to press for greater compliance with the current sanctions regime.

“We are not asking Kyrgyzstan to adopt our sanctions … we understand that there are countries that, for various reasons, choose a different path,” O’Sullivan told RFE/RL.

The Commission is currently negotiating its 20th sanctions package with member states.

While the EU has explicitly called the re-export of dual-use goods “unacceptable,” Kyrgyzstan’s government may, for the first time, pursue legal measures to push back against what it sees as an unfair treatment.

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