Some Central Asian countries are making it clear that they are not ready to take risks and may join the sanctions against Russia, said the Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin at the III Central Asian Conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club on May 16, TASS reported.
“Despite the coincidence of positions regarding the unacceptability and illegitimacy of unilateral economic restrictions, a number of Central Asian countries nevertheless do not want to take on the corresponding risks, they make it clear that they are ready to follow Western restrictive measures,” he added.
According to Galuzin, Russia "does not dictate to anyone what external and internal political course should a country take when this does not run counter to mutual obligations, including those within the CSTO, the EAEU and the CIS."
“We are sure that the Central Asian capitals see and understand this well: the artificial destruction of ties with Russia can result in more serious damage than the costs of the notorious secondary sanctions,” he added.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that Russia was determined to consistently strengthen strategic partnership relations with the countries of Central Asia.
The Valdai Conference on the theme “Russia and Central Asia: Interfacing with a Changing World” is being held on May 16 and 17 at Tomsk State University.
Earlier in february Mikhail Galuzin said that NGOs, bloggers and media outlets in Central Asia were trying to make an enemy out of Russia.
