russia receives western technologies through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan despite sanctions – investigation
Kyrgyz and Kazakh companies export microchips, telecommunications equipment and other electronic components to russia
Radio Liberty has found out that Kyrgyz and Kazakh companies are supplying dual-use technologies to russian firms linked to the kremlin, despite Western attempts to prevent such supplies through Central Asian states.
Source. This was reported by currenttime.tv.
russia uses schemes to supply Western technologies through states not restricted by Western sanctions, such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
russia's imports of dual-use goods from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have increased dramatically since the outbreak of the war. This includes electronic equipment made by such American giants as Texas Instruments and Analog Devices: components made by them have been found in russian weapons used in Ukraine.
This could lead to the imposition of so-called secondary sanctions on the two Central Asian states. Representatives of the US and EU responsible for implementing sanctions have raised this issue during official visits to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in recent months.
Radio Liberty has found that russian companies importing dual-use technologies from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are engaged or have been engaged in the past in supplying the russian military industry, including state-owned companies under Western or Ukrainian sanctions.
One of these russian companies is registered in Izhevsk, a major military-industrial center, and was founded just weeks after the start of the russian invasion of Ukraine.
The main trading partner of this company, according to customs documents, is a Kyrgyz electronics exporter that was founded only a few weeks after the start of the Russian invasion.
In other cases, russian electronics suppliers imported dual-use products through partners in Kazakhstan.
A large russian company, ITC, which supplies various military-industrial enterprises, is under US and Ukrainian sanctions. Customs documents show that ITC used a Latvian logistics company to supply dual-use technology through a Kazakh company that ITC itself had founded several years earlier.
In a number of cases, dual-use goods imported through Kyrgyz and Kazakh firms from the United States or Europe are directly shipped to recipients in russia, bypassing Central Asia, various sources told Radio Liberty.
"Money and contractual relations go through Bishkek. The goods go directly to russia," an employee of a Kyrgyz company whose website offers services for the export of goods from the United States and the EU said in response to a request from Radio Liberty.
According to customs data, Kyrgyz and Kazakh companies are exporting microchips, telecommunications equipment, and other electronic components to russia, similar to those that the Ukrainian military has found in russian missiles, tanks, helicopters, drones, and radio systems.
In just one day in December 2022, the Kazakh company EltexAlatau sent more than 100 batches of dual-use electronics to russia, which, according to Kyiv, are used by russian troops in Ukraine. In particular, the shipments included types of chips used in night vision devices for russian tanks.
Background. As a reminder, russia's largest gold and silver production company is moving its business to Kazakhstan due to sanctions.
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