The Kazakh Foreign Minister explained the country’s position on anti-Russian sanctions.

Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi told Japanese media that the country has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia. The Minister was in Japan on a visit, during which he took part in a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

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The head of the Foreign Ministry stressed that Kazakhstan would not allow circumventing restrictions on its territory.

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“Economically, Russia and Kazakhstan have close ties, and sanctions against Russia have negatively affected the economy of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan does not participate in sanctions against Russia, but adheres to the principle that it will not be used by various companies to circumvent sanctions. We will continue the current relations between Kazakhstan and Russia,” Tleuberdi said.

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The head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry also said that he was concerned about the Ukrainian crisis and added that the President of Kazakhstan is in constant contact with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine.