Russia is increasingly trying to bypass sanctions through Kazakhstan, - Reuters
In recent weeks, Russian companies have been inundating their Kazakh partners with requests to help them circumvent Western sanctions and import badly needed goods.
Reuters writes about this, Censor.NET reports.
The publication reminds that after the introduction of large-scale sanctions against the Russian economy by Western countries, Moscow is looking for ways to circumvent the bans.
Traders have created a complex network of supply chains through third countries to avoid the restriction. Many goods are imported through Turkey and former Soviet republics.
Sources told Reuters that there has been a recent surge in requests from Russia to help ship everything from bearings and aircraft parts to rare earth metals across the border with Kazakhstan.
Two sources directly linked Russia's increased interest to reports of Turkey's plans to combat the transit of sanctioned goods.
"This means that the boom is just beginning," said one foreign trade businessman
Another Kazakh businessman said he was offered $1 million to help transport a truckload of rare earth metals from Australia.
"From telephones and bearings to aircraft parts and rare earth metals," the entrepreneur said, giving examples of requests, all of which he said he has turned down.
According to the sources, the Russians have a very long shopping list, which includes industrial equipment, railway bearings, advanced electronics, radio equipment, turbines, aircraft parts, raw materials and materials for bank cards.
According to sources, some Russian firms sought to establish long-term partnerships to circumvent sanctions.
Under Russian law, compliance with Western sanctions is a crime, and violating sanctions has become a profitable industry for some entrepreneurs.
Turkey, a NATO member, said last month it would not export goods that could be used in Russia's military action after the US warned it would export chemicals, microchips and other goods. Ankara has also said it will not allow violations of Western sanctions in or through Turkey and is taking steps to prevent it.
Russia remains Kazakhstan's largest trading partner. Kazakhstan's exports to Russia last year increased by a quarter to 8.8 billion dollars.
According to sources, sometimes even the law is not violated. Often complex elements include sanctioned components but are not expressly prohibited on their own. They added that the growth of trade is so sharp that Kazakhstani customs are overwhelmed.
However, such a business is associated with additional costs. According to the businessman, Kazakh businessmen who resell goods to Russia are usually entitled to a 12% VAT refund, but those who move "suspicious goods" do not submit it, so as not to risk the entire supply chain.
