Facing the risk of EU sanctions, Kyrgyzstan has shut down 50 companies that trade with russia

This was reported by RFE/RL, citing the Kyrgyz Ministry of Justice, according to Ukrinform.

“The US and the UK have brought charges against 51 companies. Once they report the risks, we investigate them and respond. We have conducted an investigation and suspended the registration of 50 companies,” Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev told the state news agency Kabar.

The names of the 50 companies concerned have not been disclosed.

Kyrgyz media report that they are involved in wholesale trade, transport and logistics support services.

Amangeldiev had previously stated that if a business entity linked to sanctions or suspected of such links is identified, “we will revoke its legal registration”. “Once legal registration is revoked, it automatically loses its registration with banks, cannot open accounts and cannot conduct business activities. We have taken this radical decision,” he said.

Kyrgyzstan has long been considered one of russia’s main channels for evading sanctions. Since the introduction of sanctions against russia in 2022, there has been a significant increase in exports of certain goods to Kyrgyzstan, which are subsequently re-exported to russia.

The new tough measures are linked to the EU’s 20th sanctions package, in which Kyrgyzstan is identified as a country of concern regarding sanctions evasion. EU data cited in the decision point to sharp anomalies in trade, notably a rise in Kyrgyzstan’s imports of specialised electronics from the EU by over 800% between 2022 and 2025.

At the same time, European officials pointed out that there has been no corresponding growth in domestic production in Kyrgyzstan, which reinforces fears that the country has become a transit corridor for supplies to the russian defence industry.

The EU package of measures included a ban on the export to Kyrgyzstan of two types of goods: radio equipment and CNC machine tools used for cutting, drilling and machining materials. Both types of goods can be used in the production of drones and have been re-exported from Kyrgyzstan to russia in very large volumes in recent years.

Source: Ukrinform