Japarov Urges US and UK Not to Politicize Economic Relations After Sanctions on Kyrgyz Banks

The leader of Kyrgyzstan called on the American president and the British prime minister not to politicize economic relations. Sadyr Japarov’s statement followed the West’s decision to impose sanctions against Kyrgyz banks, Orda.kz reports, citing Kabar.

The US and UK suspect Kyrgyz financial institutions of helping Russia bypass sanctions. First, restrictions were imposed on Keremet Bank. Later, Central Asian Capital Bank was blacklisted.

No facts, only doubts. That's why I have doubts too. After all, they see that Kyrgyzstan's economy is growing at a high rate. I think that's why we are under pressure. After all, great powers don't want other countries to develop quickly. They prefer that everyone looks at them and depends on them.

The Kyrgyz leader stressed that the US and UK did not provide evidence of Kyrgyz banks violating anti-Russian restrictions.

Bishkek allegedly proposed an independent audit, but Washington refused:

They only said that they allegedly have certain data. But we already know very well where this data comes from. This information comes from local NGOs and our internal ill-wishers, who send anonymous false information there. And they continue to send it to this day. And then, based on this false information, they put us on the sanctions list. But they couldn't even provide any evidence.

According to Japarov, Russia itself will not be harmed by these sanctions.

On the contrary, after the sanctions, they were able to raise their own production and agriculture to a high level. Products that were previously imported are now exported. Gas and oil were exported and continue to be exported. Of course, sanctions have consequences in certain areas. But this does not mean that the country will collapse. We analyze and see all this. Western countries that impose sanctions also understand this. Moreover, they themselves continue to trade with Russia.

Japarov called the Western measures “not in line with the spirit of partnership” and described them as interference in Kyrgyzstan’s internal affairs.

Before making demands, you need to set an example yourself. We are developing the country's economy with our own efforts. I have always said and I will repeat again: we are ready to comply with international obligations. We have complied with them, we comply with them, and we will comply with them.

Kyrgyzstan, Japarov emphasized, will not allow “the country’s interests and trade and economic development to be reduced to nothing.”

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova