Kyrgyzstan Pushes Back on EU Sanctions, Seeks Talks

Kyrgyzstan is not happy with the EU's latest sanctions. The country feels targeted unfairly and wants to talk things out. The EU's new sanctions list includes some Kyrgyz banks and companies. Kyrgyzstan says it follows all international rules and wants an independent check to prove it. The EU's sanctions are part of their response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. Two Kyrgyz banks, Tolubay Bank and Eurasian Savings Bank, are on the list. Tajikistan also has two banks sanctioned. This isn't the first time Kyrgyz banks have been in trouble. Three others were already sanctioned by the US and Britain for helping Russia avoid sanctions. There's a digital currency called A7A5 that's also under scrutiny. It's linked to the Russian rouble and moved a lot of money in a short time. The Kyrgyz central bank is now checking how these sanctions will affect the country's finances. The EU and US are watching Central Asia closely. They believe it's a key route for goods and money going to Russia despite restrictions. Kyrgyzstan's economy has grown a lot since the war started. It grew 10% in the first nine months of 2025. This growth is partly due to trade with Russia and money sent by workers abroad. Kyrgyzstan's president, Sadyr Japarov, has spoken out against the sanctions. He sees them as interference. Japarov supports Russia in the Ukraine conflict. His government has taken a strong stance on this issue.