US Senator Robert Menendez sent a letter to Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Zhaparov, in which he called for the observance of sanctions imposed by the West against Russia. The reason for the letter clearly stemmed from the report that a cargo of Chinese drones from a Kyrgyz company was detained in Kazakhstan while attempting to be further transported to Russia.
President Zhaparov, when asked whether Kyrgyzstan is indeed assisting in bypassing Western sanctions, responded:
"There are no grounds or reasons to believe so. Russia and China are not dependent on the small Kyrgyzstan. These countries are already neighbors, sharing a 4,000-kilometer-long common border. If Russia wishes, it can transport any goods it desires by trains or even barges via sea.
Yes, a cargo of drones from a Kyrgyz company was detained in Kazakhstan. The company explained that these drones were intended for agricultural purposes. However, despite this, we are currently prohibiting the export of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Regarding the senator's letter, I receive letters from many prominent politicians in my name. I interpret this as a routine attempt to exert pressure on Kyrgyzstan and sway us to their side. But we won't allow that. We are an independent country. We will continue to maintain equal relations with all countries and pursue a multi-vector foreign policy.
In the matter of Russia and Ukraine, we initially stated that we maintain a neutral position. We will continue to hold this position in the future as well. Whether we change our stance or not, the situation won't change in favor of anyone. It's beyond our control."
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 10, 2023