The statement by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that his country “will not violate the sanctions regime against Russia” attracted the attention of Western publications. The media also pay attention to other statements on the sidelines of the summit of the leaders of Central Asia and Germany. The press also writes about the optimal time to strengthen relations between the West and the countries of the region.
“WEAKING RUSSIA’S CONTROL”
The statement by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that Astana will follow the sanctions regime against Russia interested the American magazine Newsweek. Tokayev made the announcement in Germany, where he visited this week.
The author of the article, Isabelle Van Bruggen, believes that Kazakhstan may have turned its back on Russia, following another ally, Armenia. She believes that relations between Kazakhstan and Russia have worsened since the start of the war in Ukraine.
“Kazakhstan has clearly stated that it will follow the sanctions regime. We have contacts with the relevant organizations to comply with the sanctions regime, and it seems to me that there should not be any concerns on the German side regarding possible actions aimed at circumventing the sanctions regime,” Tokayev said at a press conference after negotiations with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on September 28.
According to Timothy Ash, an expert at the British think tank Chatham House, Tokayev’s statement indicates that Moscow is losing influence in the region.
“Wow, huge step. Demonstrates Russia’s weakening control over the region due to Putin’s idiotic invasion of Ukraine. In recent weeks, he lost Armenia due to Russia’s failure to help in [Nagorno-Karabakh],” Timothy Ash wrote in a post on Network X (formerly Twitter).
Source: Azattyq
