Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. Photo by Fergana
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic on April 27, 2026 issued a statement expressing its «regret» over the inclusion of Kyrgyz legal entities in the 20th sanctions package of the European Union against Russia — including the application of the so-called anti-circumvention mechanism to the country.
The key contradiction that Bishkek places at the center of its position lies between Brussels' declared course toward partnership and its actual actions. The Foreign Ministry states that «despite ongoing negotiations, regular exchanges of visits with European partners, as well as the timely provision of all requested documented information in accordance with the requirements of the European Commission... the Kyrgyz side's position is still not taken into account and in fact remains unaddressed.» Even more strident is the wording that «such unilateral decisions... are in clear contradiction with the repeatedly stated intentions of the European Union to develop comprehensive cooperation» — both with Kyrgyzstan and with all of Central Asia.
Bishkek, meanwhile, rejects the very logic of pressuring third countries: the Kyrgyz side «expresses concern over the practice of applying unilateral restrictive measures against third countries» and insists that it acts «strictly within the framework of national legislation and its international obligations.» As an alternative, Kyrgyzstan calls on the EU to engage in «transparent, professional, and depoliticized dialogue» and — a particularly telling detail — «practical implementation of the agreements reached during negotiations,» thereby making it clear: there are already verbal agreements, but Brussels is not fulfilling them.
The statement comes amid the fact that Kyrgyzstan became the first country in history against which the EU applied the anti-circumvention mechanism, enshrined in the sanctions regulation back in 2023. In addition to Kyrgyz companies, the same 20th package included two Uzbek enterprises — the Fergana Chemical Plant and Raw Materials Cellulose LLC, which Brussels accused of supplying cellulose to Russian gunpowder factories.
