David O’Sullivan, the European Union’s sanctions envoy, arrived in Bishkek on February 26 for high-level discussions with Kyrgyz officials. His visit comes as concerns grow that certain financial and trade channels in Kyrgyzstan may be facilitating the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia.
During his meetings with officials from the country’s central bank and other economic ministries, O’Sullivan outlined his mission to identify and eliminate potential pathways for sanction evasion before Brussels finalizes new measures.
At a press conference, he revealed that around 80 items, primarily dual-use goods, are under scrutiny for possible re-export to Russia via Kyrgyzstan. Approximately 50 of these items are linked to Russian military equipment, while the remainder is crucial for industrial production. He emphasized that this is a narrow category that does not constitute significant economic interest for Kyrgyzstan.
O’Sullivan clarified that the EU’s primary goal is not to compel Kyrgyzstan to adopt its sanctions but to prevent the country from being used as a platform for evading them. “We are not asking Kyrgyzstan to implement our sanctions… we understand that some countries choose a different path for various reasons,” he stated in an interview with Radio Free Europe’s Kyrgyz service.
He pointed out that some goods are currently being imported into Kyrgyzstan from the EU and then re-exported to Russia, which he described as “unacceptable.”
The envoy also raised concerns about risks in the financial sector, noting the infiltration of Kyrgyz banks and cryptocurrency platforms by entities seeking to bypass sanctions. This situation has led to the inclusion of several banks and cryptocurrency-related institutions in the EU’s preliminary sanctions package.
O’Sullivan warned, “If we have evidence that companies in any country, including Kyrgyzstan, are facilitating the circumvention of our sanctions, we reserve the right to take action against those companies,” specifying that such measures would target companies rather than the country itself.
He reiterated the EU’s respect for Kyrgyzstan’s sovereignty and legitimate trade with Russia, acknowledging the importance of remittances from migrant workers for local families. “We have no intention of interfering in your entirely legitimate trade and economic relations with Russia, not at all. We respect the closeness of your relationship with Russia; we know that many of your labor migrants are in Russia, and their remittances back to Kyrgyzstan are vital for many families’ survival,” he said.
The EU is currently discussing a 20th sanctions package against Russia, which includes a ban on the export of certain high-risk items, such as CNC machines and radio equipment, to Kyrgyzstan. This measure is driven by fears that goods exported from the EU may be re-exported to Russia, thereby undermining existing sanctions.
According to a draft of the document, exports of these items to Kyrgyzstan surged nearly 800 percent in the first ten months of 2025 compared to pre-invasion levels in February 2022, while exports of the same items from Kyrgyzstan to Russia increased by approximately 1200 percent.
David O'Sullivan, the EU's sanctions envoy, visited Kyrgyzstan to address concerns over the circumvention of sanctions against Russia. He emphasized the importance of preventing Kyrgyzstan from being used as a transit point for re-exporting goods to Russia while respecting the country's sovereignty and legitimate trade relations.
Source: Radio Free Europe