Scholz calls Kazakhstan's actions on sanctions against Russia "useful"

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has praised Kazakhstan's efforts to prevent the circumvention of sanctions against Russia.

He said this at a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Berlin, dpa reports.

Scholz called the countermeasures taken by the Kazakh government "good and useful."

At the same time, Tokayev said that his country supports the sanctions imposed by the European Union and other Western countries.

"The German side should not be afraid that any steps may be taken by us to circumvent the sanctions regime," he said.

Exports to Russia from Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan have increased significantly since sanctions were imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. This has raised suspicions that Western companies are using these countries as conduits to continue trading with Russia.

Kazakhstan shares a 7,000-kilometer border with Russia, the longest land border in the world.

Author - Olena Madiak, 28/09/2023