Astana ruled out using "gas union" to circumvent sanctions

The creation of a “triple gas alliance” with Russia and Uzbekistan will not lead to Kazakhstan directly or indirectly helping Moscow to circumvent sanctions . This was stated at a briefing by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic Roman Vasilenko, Informburo reports.

“Kazakhstan does not allow its territory to be used to circumvent sanctions. From the first days of this conflict [in Ukraine], we have created a commission in the government, the task of which is to prevent the negative impact of the situation on the economy of Kazakhstan and to prevent the use of the territory of Kazakhstan to circumvent sanctions. These positions do not change, they will be used in the evaluation of any potential initiatives,” the Deputy Minister said.

Vasilenko noted that the decision to conclude a "gas union" with Russia has not yet been made, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will carefully study the proposal. He added that "a lot of ideas are voiced in diplomacy."

The creation of a "triple gas union" of Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan was discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin with Tokayev at a meeting in Moscow on November 29. “The project of a “triple gas union” proposed by the President of Russia with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan involves the creation of a coordination mechanism and the development of infrastructure for the consumption and transportation of gas for both domestic and foreign markets,” Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian President, later explained.

Kazakhstan has repeatedly stated that it will comply with the US and EU sanctions imposed against Russia. Tokayev said in June that the republic does not renounce allied obligations to Moscow, but interaction with it will be built within the framework of the sanctions regime. Timur Suleimenov, an aide to the Kazakh leader, noted that the republic would continue to trade with Russia, since "there are no other options" for the country's economy. However, the authorities of Kazakhstan will do "everything possible to control the sanctioned goods, <...> investments from citizens and companies included in the sanctions lists," he assured.