“We have held several rounds of consultations, presented our arguments, and even proposed to conduct an independent audit. However, so far, our partners do not consider this feasible and continue to impose sanctions unilaterally. We believe this is the wrong decision, as Kyrgyzstan is located in the center of Central Asia, making it an important transit hub for trade,” he noted.
The minister emphasized that the country cannot cease trade relations with traditional partners due to Western sanctions.
“In the context of conflicts and crises, our economy is facing serious restrictions. We must work, engage in trade, and ensure the safety and well-being of our people. We communicate this to our partners, explaining that we will continue to fulfill our obligations, but if they have real evidence, we are ready to consider it; however, they do not provide any,” Kulubaev added.
According to him, Kyrgyzstan intends to continue discussions on this topic in 2026.
After the outbreak of military actions in Ukraine, Russia faced numerous sanctions from Western countries. As a result of suspicions of circumventing these restrictions, companies from other states, including Kyrgyzstan, were also sanctioned. In October 2025, the European Union added two banks—“Tolubai” and the Eurasian Savings Bank—to its sanctions list. In February of last year, “Keremet Bank” was included in a new sanctions list from the United Kingdom, having previously been affected by U.S. sanctions. Additionally, several companies from Kyrgyzstan fell under the restrictions.
