Western sanctions imposed on Kyrgyzstan are “interference” in the country’s internal affairs, President Sadyr Japarov said on September 23 in his address to the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Japarov told delegates: "We view the groundless sanctions as interference in the country's internal affairs and as a crushing blow to our economy, which is just getting back on its feet."

US, UK and Japanese secondary sanctions are among those directed at various companies in the small Central Asian country over the alleged facilitation of “re-export-to-Russia” trading in goods subject to sanctions directed at Moscow in response to its war in Ukraine. Also, in August, the US and UK deployed sanctions to penalise Kyrgyzstan in response to the Grinex crypto exchange registered in the country – it appears that the exchange has been used to move billions of dollars to Russia with the use of a new cryptocurrency token, A7A5.

Japarov described sanctions imposed on Kyrgyzstan as based on false information spread by "some non-governmental organisations and malicious citizens."

He added that he was ready to welcome independent international audits to thoroughly examine the activities of Kyrgyz banks in relation to claims over sanctions dodging that assists Russia’s war economy.

Japarov said: "In 2024, the European Union countries traded with Russia for $141 billion, of which $36 billion was imported goods from Russia. Meanwhile, Britain itself, which imposed sanctions on two of our banks, traded with Russia in the amount of $2.2 billion in 2024.

“Some selfishly reserved the opportunity to cooperate with Russia, protecting their own interests and prohibiting others. You demand that we not cooperate with Russia, but you yourself cooperate widely. We have more economic ties with Russia than you do."

Japarov referred to the cooperation Kyrgyzstan attempts to extend to almost all countries under its multi-vector foreign policy, noting that, for instance, the country annually sells $1bn worth of gold to the UK.

Among companies registered in Kyrgyzstan that have been sanctioned by the US are Gazprom Neft Asia, Munay Myrza and Keremet Bank.

In his speech, Japarov also hit out at geopolitical conduct in relation to ongoing wars, saying: “Millions of people are being displaced, forced to leave their homeland, their homeland, millions of people are being killed. Who are the victims? Mostly ordinary people! We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of many nations: Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, Syria and others, where hostilities continue, ordinary people are being killed, and human rights are being violated.

“The world community, based on its selfish geopolitical interests, is approaching these conflicts with the principle of ‘this is more important, and that is less important,’ and is using a double standard approach.

“The conflict in Ukraine has been going on for almost four years, people are dying, and citizens are fleeing the country. We support the actions and decisions of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. We are interested in this! Because we are also suffering from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Unilateral sanctions are also affecting us, a country that is just getting back on its feet.”

In comments on the Gaza crisis, he said: "We demand an end to the genocide against the Palestinians and the initiation of an international judicial investigation by the UN International Court of Justice. My country has always strongly condemned all manifestations of violence and terrorism, including the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

“Such terrorists must be severely punished. However, there are methods and ways to combat terrorism and eliminate terrorists."

In comments on Afghanistan, Japarov said he considered it important to provide comprehensive support to the Afghan people in their current dire straits and to integrate the Afghan economy into regional and global economic processes.

He said: "It is wrong to isolate Afghanistan internationally, to leave it without foreign assistance. This is unfair. We consider it unfair and inhumane to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis through the use of financial instruments, pursuing geopolitical and ideological goals.

“Therefore, we believe that the assets of Afghanistan, more than nine billion US dollars frozen by Western countries, should be returned to their rightful owners – the Afghan people – as soon as possible."

More than 15mn Afghans are suffering from hunger, while 24mn are in need of humanitarian aid, said Japarov.