EU Prepares To Impose Sanctions Against Kyrgyzstan For The First Time

For helping Russia.

Kyrgyzstan may become the first former Soviet republic to fall under European sanctions for aiding Russia. According to Bloomberg, measures against Kyrgyzstan are being discussed as part of the preparation of the 20th package of sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine.

According to the agency's sources, the anti-circumvention tool may be used for the first time against the Central Asian country, which is a member of the EAEU and the Kremlin's military bloc CSTO. In particular, it is planned to ban supplies of machine tools and radio equipment to Kyrgyzstan.

After the war began, Kyrgyzstan became one of the key trade hubs through which sub-sanctioned goods from Europe were delivered to Russia. According to Brookings Institution calculations, exports from Estonia to Kyrgyzstan soared by 10,000%, from Finland by 3,100%, from Poland and Greece by 2,200% and 2,100% respectively, and from Norway, the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic by more than 1,000%. In fact, "Kyrgyzstan has become the main destination for European exports that end up in Russia," wrote Brookings Institution economist Robin Brooks.

Also in Kyrgyzstan last year, the crypto exchange Grinex, where the only currency traded is the ruble-linked A7A5 stablecoin, started operating. Launched by defense Promsvyazbank and Moldovan banker Ilya Shor, A7A5 has become a tool for cross-border settlements under sanctions. At the beginning of 2026, its turnover reached $100 billion.

The new European package may also include additional sanctions against Russian banks, oil companies, cryptocurrency services and financial organizations in third countries, which are used to circumvent the already existing restrictive measures.

The EU is also discussing a complete ban on maritime transportation of Russian oil, the agency's sources said. It should replace the mechanism of "price ceiling", which allows European companies to transport and insure raw materials from Russia, if its price is below a certain threshold. From February 1, this "ceiling" will be $44.1 per barrel.

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