German goods enter Russia via CIS countries despite sanctions

Goods from German manufacturers continue to flow to the Russian Federation despite the sanctions, according to Bild, citing data from the German Federal Statistical Office.

It is noted that the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, in particular Kazakhstan, Armenia and Uzbekistan, are used to circumvent sanctions restrictions.

After the imposition of sanctions against Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine, exports from Germany to Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Georgia doubled. There was a 150% increase in supplies to Tajikistan, a 77% increase in supplies to Belarus, and a 994% increase in supplies to Kyrgyzstan.

German authorities suspect that such increased supplies may be used to import goods to Russia in parallel, avoiding sanctions, in particular within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Berlin considers this situation unacceptable. According to Bild, this case has already attracted the attention of the EU Special Representative for Sanctions David O'Sullivan.

According to the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, in 2022, there was a significant increase in exports from Germany, in particular cars and auto parts (to Kazakhstan by 507%, to Armenia by 761%), chemical products (to Kazakhstan by 129%, to Armenia by 110%), electrical equipment (to Uzbekistan by 105%, to Armenia by 344%), metal products (to Kazakhstan by 137%) and clothing (to Kazakhstan by 88%).

This data suggests that the CIS countries can be used as transit points for goods from Germany that enter the Russian market despite the sanctions. The relevant authorities and experts are currently studying this problem and ways to solve it in order to comply with international law and the relevant restrictions imposed on the Russian Federation because of its aggression in Ukraine.

It is now important for the international community and the European Union to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions, as this is a key instrument of pressure on Russia to stop its aggression and return to the international legal order. In this regard, identifying and stopping possible ways to circumvent sanctions is becoming a particularly urgent task.