U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey) has called on Kyrgyzstan to uphold international sanctions against Russia for its unprovoked war against Ukraine and urged the Central Asian country to stop its violations of human rights.
In an official letter to President Sadyr Japarov on August 8, Menendez, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that “since onset of the [Ukraine] war Kyrgyzstan has dramatically expanded its import-export business with Russia.”
SEE ALSO: Kyrgyz, Kazakh Companies Send Western Tech To Firms Linked To Kremlin War MachineMenendez added that “at the same time, your government’s lack of enforcement or worse -- complicit facilitation of trade with Russia in products that implicate sanctions, such as drones, aircraft parts, weapon accessories, and circuitry -- is reportedly enabling Russia to evade international sanctions."
He urged the Kyrgyz government to "immediately investigate this serious allegation of sanctions evasion and to establish more reliable, robust processes to prevent the illicit flow of goods through your territory.”
An RFE/RL investigation published in June revealed how sanctioned Western electronics make their way to Russia via Kyrgyz and Kazakh firms -- some set up shortly after the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- and end up in the hands of companies that have supplied the Russian defense industry.
Menendez also called on Kyrgyz authorities to refrain from violations of human rights.
“Your government has weakened institutions, repeatedly violated the rights of journalists and independent media, harassed human rights defenders, and placed restrictions on civil society actors. A once shining beacon of democracy in Central Asia, the Kyrgyz Republic is headed down a dangerous path toward autocracy," he said. "I urge you to lift all restrictions on independent media and journalists, release imprisoned human rights defenders, and repeal measures restricting fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of association.”
Japarov rejected Menendez's accusations in an interview with Kyrgyzstan's national news agency, Kabar, claiming that countries like "Russia and China do not depend on small Kyrgyzstan."
In July, the United States imposed new sanctions targeting 18 individuals and more than 120 entities based in Russia and Kyrgyzstan in a move aimed at inhibiting Moscow’s access to products and technology that support its war efforts.
Among the entities are several based in Kyrgyzstan that the U.S. Treasury Department on July 20 said have operated as intermediaries to provide foreign-made electronics and technologies to Russia. The latest sanctions build on a wave of global actions imposed on Russia.