The EU has begun discussions on the 11th package of anti-Russian sanctions, which may affect foreign companies cooperating with Moscow and restrict exports to countries that trade with Russia. Companies from Uzbekistan may be included in the “black list” for helping the Russian Federation to bypass Western trade restrictions, Reuters reported, citing diplomatic sources.
According to them, several dozen companies from China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan could be included in the new package for helping Russia bypass Western trade restrictions. The EU may also restrict exports to countries that re-export European products to Russia.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the new sanctions will aim to stop circumventing Russia's already existing trade restrictions and were developed in very close cooperation with the G7 countries.
“If we see that goods go from the European Union to third countries, and then get to Russia, we could propose to member countries to authorize the export of these goods. This tool will be the last resort and will be used carefully,” she said.
She added that the EU will stop the transit through Russia of most of its exports, including high-tech products and aircraft parts.
According to Reuters, not all EU members agree with this sanctions approach, many of which are worried about their international relations. Therefore, the discussion of the 11th package can be “stormy” and take a long time.
According to Bloomberg, a new package of EU sanctions could affect more than 35 companies from Iran, China, the UAE, Armenia and Uzbekistan due to the fact that they support the Russian military-industrial complex. The names of foreign companies at risk of being subject to restrictions are not disclosed by the agency. The new package involves the imposition of sanctions against about 70 individuals.
Also, according to Bloomberg materials, restrictions may be extended to Russian IT companies cooperating with the FSB and a number of Russian media, including RT Balkan.
It should be recalled that on April 12, it became known that the US authorities imposed sanctions against the Akhangarancement cement plant and Akkermann Cement CA.
Akkermann Cement CA, which is a subsidiary of the Russian Akkermann Cement and is part of the USM group (controlled by Alisher Usmanov), has acquired a 98.6% stake in the Akhangarancement cement plant. The deal was completed with financing from Gazprombank, a strategic financial partner of Akkermann Cement.
CB Chairman Mamarizo Nurmuratov at a press conference on May 4 answered a question from journalists about the consequences of US sanctions against Akhangarancement.
“Indeed, this is a very worrying situation for us. Because more than 10,000 of our fellow citizens work there. This does not mean that sanctions will be applied and work will be stopped. We work with the US Department of the Treasury and OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control). A certain period is given; that is, these limits apply to their direct dollar transactions. The termination of banking operations and the payment of wages in the national currency is out of the question. You are right, there is a possibility that the bank servicing the plant may fall under secondary sanctions,” he said.
Nurmuratov also said that a group had been formed by the presidential order and work was underway with OFAC to resolve the issue.
